ADNEC wins bid to stage UFI’s 2012 Congress

Underscoring the Arabian Gulf’s rising prominence within the exhibitions sector, UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, whose members manage more than 4,500 exhibitions and 181 exhibition centres worldwide, has selected the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), in the United Arab Emirates capital, as the venue for its 2012 Congress.

The event, which is UFI’s 79^th annual global meeting, will be the very first time a venue from the Arabian Gulf has had the honour of hosting a UFI Congress.

UFI Managing Director Paul Woodward commented "We have been hoping for a long time to be able to bring the UFI Congress to Abu Dhabi and are really delighted that our 2012 event will be hosted by ADNEC. Abu Dhabi generously hosted UFI's Middle East/Africa office for the past five years. So, we are really excited to be able to share with our 550 members in 84 countries the magnificent facilities and exciting developments there which we know very well. This will, we're certain, be a really memorable UFI Congress, all the more special for being the first one we've held in the Arabian Gulf region".

Welcoming UFI’s decision to locate its 2012 Congress in the United Arab Emirates capital, Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Managing Director, said: “The opportunity to host this prestigious event is a very significant win for Abu Dhabi and for ADNEC. It provides us a wonderful opportunity to showcase both our city and our venue to leaders from the exhibitions industry.”

Stating that ADNEC worked in close cooperation with the ADTA (Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority), and other organisations from the public and private sector to advance Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness for the meetings industry, Al Dhaheri said:  “We are very gratified to note this multi-pronged approach to promote our city and our event facilities to the world, is bearing fruit and we very much look forward to welcoming UFI members in November 2012”.

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is the association of the world's leading tradeshow organisers and fairground owners, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations, and selected partners of the exhibition industry. With 550 members in 83 countries, UFI’s global reach provides unique value to its members through promotion, information and networking.