Dubai is betting big on the meetings industry. Today it announced plans for a $2.7 billion (Dh10 billion) expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center (DEC). The plan, approved by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will make the Dubai Exhibition Center the largest exhibition venue in the Middle East.
The expansion is key to Dubai’s strategy to solidify its status as a global conference hub. According to Dubai’s 2040 city master plan, the goal is to double the number of large events from 300 to 600 per year by 2033. (AED 54 billion) until then, which is consistent with the objectives of Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The DEC expansion will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase due to be completed in 2026. The final phase will bring total space to 1.94 million square feet by 2031. The completed center will house a 300-room hotel, retail stores, commercial offices and industrial kitchens. The venue’s approved projects will enable it to host large-scale events and accommodate up to 20 smaller events simultaneously.
Taken over from dubai world trade center
DEC is purpose-built for Expo 2020. In terms of scale and capacity, the venuesick Beyond the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), completed in 1979.
In 2023, DWTC held a total of 107 exhibitions, conferences and conferences, attracting 1.56 million visitors. This number included 722,000 international attendees, a 60% increase from the previous year. The venue hosts 20 events, including the flagship GITEX Global and Gulffood exhibitions, attracting around a third of attendees.
The government is pursuing plans to improve the image of Dubai Expo City and attract investment. The project connects the city to the wider southern region of Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airport, which is planned to be the largest airport in the world when fully completed.
