Friday, March 21, 2025
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the premier business catalyst and global events leader in the region, announced its remarkable 2024 performance, demonstrating record-breaking achievements that emphasize Dubai’s sustained economic expansion and its influential role as an international hub for business and trade facilitation. In 2024, DWTC hosted 2.65 million attendees at various events, registering a 7% rise from the prior year. This growth was propelled by an extensive lineup of 378 Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), along with various business and consumer events, marking a significant 26% increase year-over-year.
Record Growth in DWTC’s MICE Segment
The MICE sector at DWTC witnessed substantial expansion, growing from 107 events in 2023 to 135 in 2024. These events collectively drew over 2.03 million participants, showcasing a robust 30% growth compared to the previous year. International attendance at these MICE events reached approximately 942,000, accounting for 46% of all MICE participants, which underscores Dubai’s prominence as a leading global destination for business.
The year also saw 58,665 companies exhibit at these events, a 9% increase from the previous year, with 77% of these exhibitors coming from overseas. This significant international presence at DWTC’s MICE events supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda “D33”, aiming to position Dubai among the top three global cities for business and tourism.
Commenting on the outstanding results, H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said: “Our 2024 achievements reflect growth – not just in numbers, but in strengthening Dubai’s global market position. The remarkable increase in international participation underscores growing confidence in Dubai’s dynamic business ecosystem and DWTC’s role in fostering meaningful commercial connections. Our continued success in attracting new-to-market events across diverse sectors reaffirms Dubai’s unique appeal as a global hub where innovation meets opportunity. This momentum fuels our confidence as we drive forward with our ambitious venue expansion strategy to meet increasing global demand.”
Strong Outcomes from DWTC’s Hosted Exhibitions and Events
In 2024, DWTC hosted 20 key exhibitions and events, drawing an impressive 590,000 attendees, a 14% increase from the previous year. Among these attendees, 242,000 were international visitors, making up 41% of the total. The exhibitions also saw a 9% rise in the number of exhibitors to 19,062, with international exhibitors representing a significant 79% of this total.
Internationally, KAOUN International broadened DWTC’s reach by extending flagship events outside Dubai, including notable performances at GITEX AFRICA in Morocco and the inaugural GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 Asia in Singapore.
Leading Sectors in MICE Performance
The Healthcare, Medical, and Scientific sector emerged as DWTC’s strongest sector, hosting 25 events that attracted over 465,000 attendees—23% of all MICE visitors, marking a 69% increase from 2023. Major events included WHX Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health), AEEDC, DUPHAT, WHX Labs Dubai (formerly Medlab), and Dubai Derma.
The Food, Hotel, and Catering sector claimed the second spot, pulling in over 283,000 attendees, which is 14% of total MICE attendance, with a notable 25% rise in participation driven by events like Gulfood and Gulfood Manufacturing.
The Information Technology sector was close behind, attracting over 281,000 participants, also comprising 14% of total MICE attendance, with a participation growth of 8% driven by GITEX Global and related events.
The Consumer Goods and Leisure, Sport, and Travel sectors also performed well. The former attracted over 112,000 attendees with events such as The Baby Expo and World Vape Show, while the latter drew nearly 110,000 participants through events like Arabian Travel Market and Dubai Muscle Show.
Other notable high-performing exhibitions included The Big 5, Beauty World, WETEX, Automechanika, and Intersec.
Expansion in Conferences and Association Events
DWTC significantly enhanced its conferences and association events calendar, hosting 25 conferences—double the number from the previous year—drawing nearly 90,000 participants, a threefold increase from 2023. Seventeen of these were new, adding variety to the event offerings. Key conferences included the AYUSH Conference, Arab Media Forum, Global Freight Summit, and MEIDAM.
The year also saw success in international association meetings with 14 events attracting over 104,000 participants, a significant increase from the previous year. Highlights included the MDRT Global Conference and World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems.
Dubai Exhibition Centre’s Growing Role
The Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) played a crucial role in 2024, hosting 24 events that attracted 128,000 participants. Its nine largest exhibitions and conferences alone drew 75,000 attendees, featuring 1,300 exhibitors. Prominent events included the Custom Show Emirates and Dubai Muscle Show.
With a strategic AED 10 billion expansion, DEC is poised to significantly enhance its capacity and role within Dubai’s MICE ecosystem, with Phase 1 completion slated for 2026 to add substantial exhibition space, preparing it to accommodate larger events and a greater number of visitors by 2031.
DWTC’s Impact on Dubai’s Economic Strategy
H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri added: “Our 2024 results underscore the strategic focus on scaling Dubai’s global events sector. Our DEC expansion represents the next critical phase of increasing our capacity to meet growing global demand, allowing us to significantly multiply both our event hosting capabilities and economic contribution over the coming decade. This infrastructure investment, combined with our sector diversification strategy and growing international appeal, positions DWTC to not only advance Dubai’s Economic Agenda ‘D33” but to fundamentally reshape the emirate’s role in global commerce and solidify its status as a world-leading business destination.”
Ecosystem Expansion Boosts DWTC’s Diverse Business Portfolio
In 2024, DWTC made substantial progress across its various operations, marking key milestones beyond its core events business. The Real Estate division formed a strategic alliance with Emaar Properties to develop Expo Living, a groundbreaking residential project within Expo City Dubai. The Asset Management sector reached impressive new occupancy levels, with commercial spaces at One Central, Sheikh Rashid Tower, and Convention Tower achieving near-total occupancy at 99%. Additionally, Expo Village residential units surpassed 90% occupancy.
The DWTC Authority Free Zone expanded its offerings by incorporating One Za’abeel into its jurisdiction, providing companies with access to top-tier business environments and specialized free zone advantages. Throughout the year, the Free Zone licensed 389 new businesses, highlighting its growing appeal to global enterprises.
