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Having welcomed 3.3 million delegates and attendees last year, the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) announced a record-breaking year.
In 2017, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) hosted a whopping 353 MICE events including 103 mega-events that attracted 2.6 million participants. That’s almost one event daily which is not surprising for the region’s largest trade venue. Its growth this year reaches 9%, with a total of 18% since 2016.
These figures are naturally aligned with the UAE’s economic diversification strategy that targets a balance between industries (with more focus on tourism), ensuring sustainability and delivering new business opportunities.
“The strong increase in the number of key MICE and business events reflect sectors that are strategically aligned with Dubai Plan 2021”
The 2017 results are proof of DWTC’s ability to consistently attract increased and repeat foreign participation and is a strong endorsement of its reputation as a world-class business catalyst and destination.
The impressive data further reiterates the impact of its diversified content-rich calendar of MICE and business events, as it continues to grow its contribution to Dubai’s surging economy.
Furthermore, International participation also contributed to the steady increase. In 2017, DWTC hosted over 1.1 million foreign business travellers, representing 42% of overall participant volumes and 6% annual growth.
“The strong increase in the number of key MICE and business events reflect sectors that are strategically aligned with Dubai Plan 2021 and the goals of building an innovation-led economy that contributes to the development of the UAE and Dubai,” said His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
“We are committed to future-proofing DWTC’s businesses by sourcing smart solutions and integrating smart technologies that offer safe, secure and seamless experiences, setting the gold standard in digital innovation to attract more new and repeat international business visitors to Dubai, as the city accelerates towards the 20 million tourists target by 2020.”
