Dubai:The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is enhancing its role as a pivotal player in Dubai's events economy by evolving from a traditional exhibition and conference venue into an integrated economic platform. This strategic shift aims to boost the sector's annual economic output to AED54 billion by 2033.
According to Emirates News Agency, the transformation is underpinned by a significant AED10 billion expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai. This expansion is complemented by a robust schedule of over 100 exhibitions, conferences, and business events planned for the final quarter of 2026.
In 2025, major events hosted by DWTC generated AED25.03 billion in economic output, up from AED22.35 billion in 2024. This growth highlights the increasing importance of business events to various sectors such as tourism, hospitality, aviation, transport, trade, and professional services.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, emphasized the crucial role of business events in driving Dubai's economic growth. He noted that the events stimulate activity across related sectors, providing direct economic benefits. Julfar also highlighted that 2026 marks the first year of events being organized across two integrated venues the Dubai World Trade Centre in the city's central business district and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai.
This dual-venue model offers greater flexibility and space, enhancing Dubai's capacity to host significant international events. Julfar cited Gulfood as an example of success, with the exhibition having more than doubled in size, attracting over 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.
The ongoing expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre is a three-phase development, with the first phase already completed, increasing indoor exhibition space to 140,000 square meters. The second phase will further expand the space to 160,000 square meters, and the final phase, due by 2031, will extend it to 180,000 square meters, accommodating up to 65,000 visitors daily.
These developments are set to reinforce Dubai's status as a global hub for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), with the city increasingly measured by its capability to host large-scale events and convert participation into investment and long-term business opportunities.
