The emirate leads the momentum of the exhibitions and conferences sector regionally and globally
The Dubai Trade Center will provide Dubai's economy with 200 billion dirhams in 40 years
Dubai has hosted more than 150 events since the beginning of this year.
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Dubai World Trade Center tops the scene for hosting live events.
Photography: Ashok Verma
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Sectors that built Dubai's economy
The Emirate of Dubai has achieved widespread global fame, making it a global destination for the economy, attracting capital and entrepreneurs from different countries, and becoming a springboard for many billion companies thanks to its advanced infrastructure and flexible legislative environment.
Several sectors have contributed to the growth of the emirate's economy and achieved leaps and bounds in all fields over the past years. Perhaps the most prominent of these sectors are: aviation, tourism, retail, technology, real estate, foreign trade, manufacturing and financial services.
The aviation sector continued to support the growth of Dubai's economy with high rates of passenger flow and linking the emirate to the outside world.
Dubai International Airport is an essential tributary to the emirate's economy, and a major enabling factor in the growth of the country's trade volume in general, and the Emirate of Dubai in particular, with various global markets.
The tourism sector has contributed to the diversification of the emirate's economy, as Dubai has huge tourism potentials and a developed infrastructure that has made it a favorite destination to visit throughout the year.
The retail trade sector is one of the activities that support the growth and diversification of Dubai's economy, as it has contributed to keeping pace with the economic development movement in the emirate.
The real estate sector has also recorded remarkable growth levels during the last period, as Dubai has become a magnet for investors from all over the world.
Dubai real estate witnessed a significant improvement in its investment attractiveness with the high return on investment from leasing it thanks to the stimulating measures.
Officials and managers said that Dubai is leading the momentum of the exhibition and conference sector at the global level, noting that the emirate has hosted more than 150 events since the beginning of this year, in addition to more events that are being arranged during the coming period.
They told "Emirates Today" that this momentum enhances Dubai's position as an ideal destination for hosting international events, and confirms that it is one of the most prominent safe destinations for attending live events, pointing to the increased demand for travel, in light of the partial reopening of destinations with the acceleration of vaccination campaigns.
They added that the Dubai World Trade Center led the scene of hosting live events, during an exceptional stage that the whole world went through, noting that business tourism in Dubai witnessed a continuous recovery, in light of the major events and conferences it hosts, in addition to the visit for the purpose of entertainment.
They stressed that this enhances Dubai's position as an ideal destination for hosting international events, and also confirms that it is one of the most prominent safe destinations for attending direct events, thus contributing to achieving the goal of making Dubai the best city for life, work and visit.
tourism sector
Exhibitions and conferences are an essential component of the tourism sector in the UAE, especially during the current year, which witnesses the organization of many exhibitions and conferences, which attract thousands of visitors and exhibitors, which constitutes a tributary to the tourism and hotel sector in the country.
Sources working in the tourism sector said that hotel occupancy rates in the emirate during major exhibitions and conferences, such as (Cityscape, GITEX and Gulfood), ranged between 90 and 100%, especially in hotels near the venues of these events, noting that the emirate will host dozens of events and conferences during The coming period is a continuation of the recovery scene experienced by the local economy.
«Expo 2020»
Expo 2020 Dubai represented one of the country's most important initiatives that contributed directly to supplying the tourism sector with record numbers of tourists and tourism revenues and highlighting the leadership of the travel, hotel, hospitality and entertainment sectors in the country, as a sustainable tourism strength and attractive to tourists, and the exhibition succeeded in attracting more than 24 million visitors in six months.
Through the legacy of “Expo” and the pioneering projects that will be completed in “Expo City Dubai”, the country will host a new world-class destination for residence, business, education, innovation, and the latest model for future cities, which is scheduled to open next October, which will contribute to the advancement of Taking the national tourism environment to a new level, especially business tourism, conferences, exhibitions and tourism related to learning about future technologies that the state continues to embrace, develop and achieve leadership through.
Expo provided a qualitative leap in creative events and performances that mixed modern technology with global cultures due to the volume of international participation in the global event in 192 countries and 200 local and international institutions and destinations, which will have a positive impact in revitalizing the country's economy.
Expo 2020 Dubai spread the spirit of economic optimism, despite the challenges of “Covid-19” that afflicted the world over two years, to confirm that the positive impact of the event in many economic sectors, including events and conferences, will extend beyond the end of the exhibition, especially with the world looking forward. For a period of economic recovery at all levels and in many sectors, especially the role played by the events and exhibitions sector in reviving the travel and hospitality sector strongly.
future projects
The performance of the exhibitions and conferences sector in Dubai, during the past 10 years, came to strongly express the great importance of this sector to the Emirate of Dubai, which contributed to the launch of future projects towards pumping more investment spaces into this sector, in which Dubai has become its regional center and one of the first global cities in it. .
Dubai, according to studies on the sector, accounts for about 50% of the volume of the exhibition industry in the Middle East, benefiting from the development of its infrastructure at the level of roads, ports and airports. With a strong infrastructure in this sector, on top of which is the Dubai World Trade Center, strong air traffic and international hotels.
A recent statistic revealed that the size of the exhibition industry globally achieves two trillion dollars, distributed among 9,000 exhibitions between large global, medium and small exhibitions, noting that exhibition and conference tourism is an industry that international and regional tourist destinations compete for.
Regionally, Dubai stands out as a regional center in the Middle East for this industry, but this role was not a product of the moment, as industry experts say, but was achieved over the years, during which Dubai became a global icon and achieved the difficult number in the world of exhibitions, by organizing a series of Exhibitions that have developed over the years, and become one of the most important specialized international exhibitions, such as Gitex Technology Week and Gulfood Food Exhibition.
Diverse agenda
The Dubai calendar is rich with various events in various vital sectors, and receives millions of visitors throughout the year.
The regular events throughout the year constituted a vital platform for informing the world of the achievements being made within the country, in addition to learning about the experiences of other countries of the world, exchanging knowledge and experiences, building international relations and creating more opportunities and partnerships locally and globally.
The international centers specialized in the exhibition and conference industry, which were established in Dubai, have also contributed to moving the sector from local to global levels, and enhancing the emirate's position as an international center for the specialized events sector thanks to its advanced infrastructure, cultural, commercial and investment openness, and modern services.
Shopping Festivals
The events held in the country meet the needs of all age groups.
These events include shopping festivals such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Festival, which offer many discounts and special offers.
The country also regularly hosts many sports tournaments with the participation of famous international players, in which great rewards are distributed.
Dubai is also a regional center for cultural events offered by the Ministry of Culture and Youth, in addition to being considered one of the best global destinations for business and conference events.
Dubai Trade Center
The Dubai World Trade Center has played a major role in diversifying Dubai's economy and has worked to create a broader economic impact, cementing Dubai's position as a global center for trade and business tourism.
The center, which was established in 1979, opened the doors of the region to the international exhibitions and conferences industry, and became the vibrant heart of Dubai, where it continues to grow as a platform for opportunities, creativity and communication due to its unique position as the leading center for events, exhibitions and conferences in the region.
A report issued by the center considered that the "Dubai Exhibition Center", which was established in the city of "Expo Dubai", represents a unique value with its world-class exhibition spaces, and what it represents as a center for international business and trade, and will host many trade fairs, meetings, conferences and international business events. and regional in the coming period.
Regarding the center’s achievements in the hospitality and exhibitions sector over the past years, the report confirmed that the center is a direct contributor to Dubai’s economy. The center has always given foreign investors the opportunity to see what the emirate can offer in terms of distinguished infrastructure and a large number of fast-growing industries, along with Significant government support and a business-friendly regulatory environment, with significant access to high potential markets, rapid population growth rates and growing needs.
vital role
Regarding the vital role that the center was able to play in Dubai's economy, the report indicated that the Dubai World Trade Center has played a major role in diversifying Dubai's economy over the past 40 years, and at the same time worked to create a broader economic impact, consolidating Dubai's position as a global center for trade and tourism. Business.
The report stated that the Dubai World Trade Center plays an important role in facilitating trade and development between continents, and its role extends far beyond encouraging local export and import, as it is truly a regional and global center for business and a catalyst for growth, bringing the world together and providing communication to achieve potential opportunities everywhere. All event organizers, exhibitors and visitors contribute directly and indirectly to spending across Dubai, and the direct economic impact covers a range of sectors, including hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation, government and commercial services.
Added Value
The report indicated that the indirect impact comes in the form of industries that provide raw materials, manufactured goods and additional services to the Dubai World Trade Center, all of which are witnessing an increase in demand for their products as a direct result of the exhibitions and conferences that we organize and host.
This supply chain, which is characterized by high purchases such as utilities, food, goods, construction and building, creates an indirect impact that multiplies throughout Dubai and its industries, which drives the wheel of growth and creates additional value in the economy, as well as contributes to increasing the family income resulting from the activities of the Dubai World Trade Center and the resulting impact On consumption, it appears in increased spending on food, consumer products, retail, entertainment, transportation, housing, finance, and other miscellaneous goods and services.
He stated that the Dubai World Trade Center contributed more than 200 billion dirhams as a total economic output to Dubai's GDP during the past four decades, as a result of hosting about 5,000 exhibitions, conferences and various events, during which it attracted more than 30 million business visitors to Dubai, including 12 million From international markets, which contributed to strengthening Dubai's position as a global center for entrepreneurship and creativity.
The report confirmed that the activities of the Dubai World Trade Center achieved record high returns of 23 billion dirhams for 2018, of which 13.1 billion dirhams were kept in the economy as a cumulative retained value equivalent to 3.3% of the emirate’s GDP, and 57% of the value of the returns, an increase of 3 % over 2017.
Exhibition Tourism
For his part, General Manager of the Media Rotana Hotel Dubai, Sherif Madkour, said that “exhibition and conference tourism accounts for rates ranging between 20-40% of the total business of the hotel sector, while occupancy rates rise to range between 90 and 100% during large exhibitions and conferences. Especially in hotels close to the sites of these conferences,” noting that “government agencies in the UAE have succeeded in creating a continuous movement filled with events and events that suit all tastes of visitors, by attracting many international conferences and exhibitions that fuel business tourism in the country.”
He explained that "the presence of a strong network of air traffic that reaches most countries of the world with direct lines has contributed greatly to the activity of the exhibition and conference industry, as the UAE has become a link and meeting point for businessmen from all over the world," noting that there are promising indicators and a distinguished year. In the tourism sector with the support of a busy schedule of events.
Madkour said that "incentive tourism, meetings, conferences and exhibitions is considered one of the most important tributaries of the hotel sector, in particular, and tourism in general, and is a measure by which one can know the extent of the success of any tourist destination."
He added that «there are many factors that made the emirate a regional center for exhibitions and conferences, most notably the presence of appropriate infrastructure, and the adoption of a policy of cooperation between the public and private sectors, which is represented in the participation of all sectors, such as aviation, hotels, retail centers and official bodies, in consolidating the emirate's position as a center. Internationally for exhibitions and conferences in the region.
Trade poles
"Dubai is the icon of the UAE, which filled the world and occupied the poles of trade and innovation regionally and globally, which is evidenced by the numbers of its exhibitions, the diversity of its specialties, and the number of visitors who took its love with them to their homes," said Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of Index Holding.
He added: "Normally every diligent has a share, but in the case of shining cities, the numbers are more truthful than any share, as the international figures translated the brilliance of the rational government's efforts, through the Emirate of Dubai being ranked first in the global innovation index in the region, kindly to the It achieved a remarkable development in its global ranking by skipping two ranks on the global index to rank 34 globally, which has strengthened the position of the United Arab Emirates among the ranks of industrialized and advanced countries, as it is one of the countries that most support innovation in order to adopt its economy as an alternative to oil.
Al-Madani continued: "There is no dispute that during the past two decades, the emirate's star has shined in the sky of finance and business and many leading sectors, not only at the regional level, but among various countries of the world, thanks to the concerted efforts of the private and public sectors, who agreed on the importance of cooperation To raise the status of Dubai in various fields.
The emirate's interest in the conference and exhibition industry was one of the biggest incentives that contributed significantly to the popularity of the tourism sector, in addition to its confidence in the innovation and technology sector, in an effort to anticipate the future by various standards.
For her part, Director of YourMind Media, Elizabeth Rayment, said: “The exhibition and conference industry in Dubai has grown significantly over the past decade.
"We often see our customers coming from other countries to the emirate specifically to participate in these exhibitions," she added.
She pointed to the positive impact on the business of companies that visit Dubai to attend conferences, which prompts them to request a local license and open offices to meet the new demand.
"Of course, the increasing number of new companies being formed in Dubai and the rising volume of tourists brought by these trade fairs and conferences, have a significant impact on the development of Dubai's economy," she added.
• Dubai World Trade Center leads the scene of hosting live events, during an exceptional stage that the whole world has gone through.
• Business tourism in Dubai witnessed a continuous recovery with the support of major events and conferences.
Dubai exhibitions
Dubai has provided a leading role model internationally for the return of events worldwide. Since the reopening of local events on September 15, 2020, and international events on October 1, 2020, the Emirate of Dubai has played a major role in hosting a group of the most important exhibitions and major events, including: “GITEX Technology Week” And the Gulfood exhibition, which made Dubai the prominent city in the world that hosts major international events in the wake of the decline in pandemic rates, as more than 50,000 people, representing more than 100 countries, participated in both GITEX and Gulfood. .
The CEO of “Entourage” Marketing and Events Management Company, Mohamed Tim, confirmed that “the way Dubai dealt with the global pandemic was distinctive and ideal, which made it the first choice to resume business activities,” stressing the role of the Dubai government in managing the pandemic since the first day, which Contributes to the promotion of Dubai's global position.
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