Dubai wins 504 bids to host major business events

During the year 2025, Dubai continued to consolidate its position as one of the leading global destinations in attracting international business events, after it succeeded in securing 504 bids to host major business events, representing major economic sectors and various professional fields over a period of four years.

The efforts of Dubai Business Events, the official office for attracting events and conferences in the city, affiliated with the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, resulted in achieving this achievement, through its cooperation with the most prominent partners from the public and private sectors.

The Dubai Festivals and Retail Corporation reported, in a statement yesterday, that this performance recorded an annual growth of 15% in the number of winning hosting bids, which enhances Dubai’s global competitiveness as a leading center for business events, which is consistent with its long-term economic priorities.

The events that have been won to be hosted during the year 2025 are expected to attract about 272,262 participants to Dubai until 2029, an increase of 29% compared to 209,545 participants in 2024.

This will contribute to achieving a direct impact on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, as well as the wider tourism and travel system in the city.

In addition to the large number of participants that will be hosted, these events will bring global expertise, talent and investment opportunities to Dubai, enhancing its role as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and cooperation in many sectors and fields.

During 2025, Dubai hosted 481 business events supported by “Dubai Business Events”, compared to 429 events in 2024, an annual growth of 9%.

The attraction of these events was a direct result of the success of the nomination efforts led by the office, which reflects the strength and diversity of Dubai’s comprehensive agenda for international and local business events. This momentum also appears in the activity of hosting bids, as 747 bids were submitted during the year 2025, compared to 669 bids in 2024, an increase of 11%.

Executive Director of the Dubai Festivals and Retail Corporation, Ahmed Al Khaja, said: “Under the guidance of the wise leadership, the business events sector continues to achieve achievements in line with its pivotal role in supporting Dubai’s economic growth, enhancing the knowledge economy, and consolidating its global position. The distinguished performance of this sector during the year 2025 reflects the increasing confidence that associations, organizations, companies and incentive trip organizers have placed in Dubai, as a leading destination capable of hosting world-class business events with a sustainable impact.”

He added: “As we look forward to 2026, we will continue to work to strengthen our relationships and cooperation with our partners, to raise Dubai’s position within the global scene of business events, which is consistent with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), and brings value to the city, organizers and participants in the long term.”

Among the most prominent bids to host conferences and meetings of international societies that were won during the year 2025 are the Arab Radiology Conference 2025, which is expected to attract about 1,500 participants, and the American College of Cardiology Conference – Middle East 2025.

Dubai has succeeded in securing the hosting of a series of major international conferences with a future orientation, including the World Congress of Engineers 2027, with an expected attendance of 3,000 participants, and the “Apimondia International Conference 2027” with the attendance of 5,000 participants.

It has also succeeded in attracting major global business events of great importance, most notably winning the hosting of the annual SWIFT-SIBOS 2029 conference and exhibition, one of the most prominent global business events in the financial services sector, which is expected to attract about 12,000 participants.

Dubai has strengthened its presence in the sectors of institutional events and incentive trips for companies, by securing the hosting of major global programmes, including the “Africa Energy Forum 2026”, with the attendance of 2,000 participants.

• 29% increase in the number of participants in the events that Dubai won to host.