Exhibition season maintains strong momentum

Keeping up with the success of September and October, the Middle East’s leading venue operator and event organiser Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) hosted more than 250,000 visitors and 4,000 exhibitors at eight of the Middle East’s leading exhibitions and conferences throughout November. 

Confirming DWTC’s vital role to regional business growth, these events aided in once again reaffirming Dubai as the regional hub for meetings, events and conferences. November events include exhibitions and events as diverse as the International Bar Association Annual Conference, the Dubai International Motor Show, Dubai International Jewellery Week, the Dubai Air Show, The Big 5, FM Expo, GSM 3G Middle East, the Dubai Drink and Technology Expo, the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair and Dubai World Game Expo. 

CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre, Helal Saeed Almarri, said: “The sustained growth of these events is testimony to Dubai’s strength as the gateway for regional business. Our venues have continued to attract a targeted profile of top-tier visitors from all over the world, driving tangible returns on investment for exhibiting companies.“ 

Highlights from the past month include The Dubai International Motor Show, which ran from 10^th – 14^th November; as the largest and most established motoring event in the Middle East, with 150 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, the event had a 22% growth in exhibition space over the last edition, drawing more than 100,000 visitors. With spectacular sales reported in the millions and deals generated across the board from the economy, mid-range, luxury and supercar models on display, the show reflected a phenomenal year of growth for the automotive industry in the region. 

Dubai International Jewellery Week took place alongside the Motor Show, and hosted over 20,000 visitors, reflecting one of the world's most dynamic markets for luxury goods. The exhibition provided the perfect platform for global and regional manufacturers to meet buyers from the Gulf, North Africa, India and beyond as the event welcomed more than 270 exhibitors from over 25 countries, and supported the Middle East's jewellery landscape by providing  a four day extravaganza of stunning jewellery collections and lavish luxury lifestyle accessories from the world’s leading brands. 

At the Airport Expo Dubai venue, DWTC hosted the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East, and the fastest growing air show in the world – Dubai Air Show. The event, which ran from 13^th – 17^th November boasted an impressive 1,000 exhibitors from over 50 countries with 60,000 visitors. This year’s show was highly successful as it recorded US$63.3 billion of orders for aircraft, maintenance services and flight training programmes. 

DWTC also hosted The Big 5, the Middle East’s largest building and construction show, from 21-24^th November. The world’s leading construction buyers and sellers gathered to showcase and source the most comprehensive range of construction products and services, attracting more than 2,300 exhibitors from 75 countries. 

DWTC’s continuous commitment to contribute to the Emirate’s GDP in line with Dubai’s strategic plan is reflected in their robust global calendar of events, covering key sectors and attracting the top industry leaders and visitors to the region.