Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the leading business hub in the Middle East, has reported an outstanding performance in 2022. The annual results reveal the centre’s ability to host 1.98 million delegates with a significant visitation growth of 29%, driven by 244 MICE events and business and consumer exhibitions. DWTC’s portfolio of events, including Gulfood and GITEX Global, attracted 337,000 visitors and registered 20% annual growth.
The centre hosted 97 exhibitions and conferences, attracting 1.18 million attendees, of which 38% were from overseas, reflecting Dubai’s position as the destination for business and tourism. The top-performing sectors in 2022 were Healthcare, Medical and Scientific, Information Technology, and Food and Beverage Trade.
DWTC’s Director-General, H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, said the results endorse the emirate’s efforts to drive post-pandemic economic recovery and leverage opportunities. He added that the MICE industry’s return to form in 2022 reflects DWTC’s strong business portfolio, which attracted over 37,000 exhibiting companies, 50% more than in 2021, of which 72% were international.
GITEX Global, the world’s largest tech show, once again positioned Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of future technologies, attracting more than 170,000 attendees, 40% of which were international. The event generated AED2.6 billion worth of total economic output, with 57% retained within the local economy.
Underlining Dubai’s reputation as a strategic gateway for global food and beverage trade, the 27th edition of Gulfood saw a 50% increase in participation. It again connected food and beverage producers and buyers from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
DWTC also launched KAOUN International, an overseas market-focused international events company set to deliver the inaugural editions of the Saudi Food Show and GITEX Africa in 2023.
DWTC’s experiential agency, DXB Live, witnessed record growth in 2022, marking its foray into new regional and international markets, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Germany. DXB Live provided services to over 400 events and was the main contractor for over 50 exhibitions, including mega-events such as GITEX Global, Light Middle East, Beauty World, and Gulfood.
Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) Free Zone doubled in size, issuing 926 new licenses in 2022, while grade-A commercial One Central marked its highest occupancy at 75% since opening. 2022 also saw the successful opening of the 5-star flagship 25 Hours Hotel at One Central.
The successful results are especially significant given their wide-ranging economic impact, according to H.E. Almarri. In 2023, DWTC will build on its position as a locally and beyond UAE borders MICE sector leader, venturing into Saudi Arabia and Morocco with KAOUN International. In parallel, it will continue developing it’s expanding portfolio of real estate and free zone activities.
DWTC’s performance in 2022 is a testament to the emirate’s efforts in driving post-pandemic economic recovery and leveraging opportunities. The centre’s dynamic events sector is an acknowledged global platform for impactful knowledge sharing, effective networking, and game-changing innovation. It reinforces Dubai’s position as the capital of the MICE industry and its contribution towards achieving Dubai Economic Agenda D33 goals.
Written by: Stephen Morton
