Dubai World Trade Center and Informa Group announced Thursday that they will combine their activities in the Middle East to create a new entity called Informa International with annual revenue of more than $700 million.
Informa International will take over the operation of programs representing partners’ important profit centers. They include the Gulf of Mexico, Gitex, GISEC, WHX, Middle East Energy and Dubai Air Show.
Informa International plans to export major DWTC brands to India, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Dubai doubled its commitment to the conference industry. Expo City’s Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) is expanding. This is part of Dubai’s 2040 urban master plan. DWTC owns and operates for December. In addition to Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Dubai’s economic agenda D33 aims to double the size of the emirate economy over the next decade. A key pillar of the strategy is that the mouse industry contributes three times to Dubai’s GDP, with a target of $14.7 billion (Dh54 billion) by 2033.
Informa International Trading to End Q4 2025
The completion of the transaction is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. It plans to operate in full next year, pending regulatory approval.
“The respective exhibitions that combine Informa and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will create the largest organizer of B2B events in the UAE. Next to the Tahaluf joint venture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it makes Informa the highest position in the region’s most mature and leading commercial event market. For DWTC, Informa’s global network will accelerate the global promotion of its global exhibition brand,” said Kai Hattendorf, founder of industry consulting firm HTF.
Informa has always been optimistic about the industry. Last year, it acquired Accential, the company behind the Cannes Lions Festival and the 20/20 currency for $1.6 billion. On Thursday, it reported adjusted operating profits rose 23% to $1.28 billion in 2024.
