Exhibition and conference industry is a basic tributary of economic growth in the Emirates

The exhibition and conference industry in the UAE continues to establish its position as a basic tributary to advance the wheel of economic growth and the head of the strategic goals aimed at building a diversified economy based on knowledge, in line with the state’s vision to achieve sustainable economic development.

This strategic industry is witnessing an accelerated growth and development in the regulation and hosting of major international events, thanks to the advanced infrastructure and modern equipment for exhibition and conference centers, as well as national competencies and global expertise that contribute to enhancing the state’s position as a regional and global center for the major events and exhibitions industry.

During the current year 2025, the exhibitions and conferences sector in the country continued its strong performance, contributing to enhancing economic diversity and exploring new opportunities for growth across the various vital sectors, in addition to hosting international events and exhibitions.

According to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah data, ADNEC group recorded a direct economic contribution to the national GDP of 8.5 billion dirhams during the year 2024, compared to 7.4 billion dirhams in 2023, which reflects the continuous growth in the size and impact of the activities it hosts.

The facilities of the “ADNEC” group, including the “Ednik Abu Dhabi” Center, the Al -Ain Convention Center, and the “Excel London”, hosted more than 1,000 activities during the year 2024 in a record presence exceeding 5.4 million visitors, which is the highest in the history of the group.

The Capital Events Company, the group’s organizational arm, achieved 10 billion dirham deals during the exhibitions organized, while the group’s hotels received about 1.531 million inmates.

In Dubai, the Dubai World Trade Center achieved an exceptional economic performance during the year 2024, where the economic impact assessment report confirmed the center’s contribution to the governorate’s gross domestic product, by hosting 100 major events with an annual increase of 32%, which included international exhibitions, high -level conferences and international societies meetings.

These activities recorded the participation of more than two million people, and contributed to achieving a total economic product of 22.35 billion dirhams, of which 13.04 billion dirhams are as an economic value held within the local product of the Emirate of Dubai.

The number of international visitors reached about 936 thousand visitors, which reflects Dubai’s world position in the field of business tourism.

This performance coincides with the start of the implementation of the first phase of the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026, in a strategic move towards enhancing its capabilities to host major global events and establish its role as a vital economic axis for innovation and sustainable growth.

In Sharjah, the “Expo Sharjah” Center continues its efforts to support the state’s exhibition industry and enhance its contribution to the growth of economic, social, cultural and educational sectors, in line with the targets of sustainable development.