Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is moving beyond its traditional role as a venue operator to become an integrated economic platform, with a goal of lifting the events sector’s annual output to AED54 billion by 2033.
Events hosted by DWTC generated AED25.03 billion in economic output in 2025, up from AED22.35 billion in 2024. Around AED14.66 billion of last year’s total was gross value added to Dubai’s economy, supporting tourism, hospitality, aviation, transport, trade and professional services.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that business events create direct economic output while stimulating activity across related sectors. He said 2026 is the first year events have run across two integrated venues: Dubai World Trade Centre in the central business district and Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai.
Julfar cited Gulfood as proof of the model’s value. The exhibition more than doubled in size and drew over 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.
The AED10 billion DEC expansion is being delivered in three phases. The first has lifted indoor space to 140,000 square metres, with capacity for 50,000 visitors daily. The second will raise it to 160,000 square metres, while the final phase, due by 2031, will reach 180,000 square metres across a 1.2-kilometre development. Once complete, the venue will host up to 65,000 visitors a day and more than 20 events at the same time.
The final quarter of 2026 brings more than 100 exhibitions, conferences and business events across both venues. They cover artificial intelligence, energy, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, sustainability, trade and tourism, with GITEX Global, Big 5 Global, WETEX, Gulfood Manufacturing and Automechanika among the highlights.
Competitiveness is now measured not only by the number of events or space leased, but by a city’s ability to host large simultaneous events and turn participation into investment, partnerships and lasting business opportunities.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
