Dubai World Trade Center attracts 3 million participants in 2025 events

Today, the Dubai World Trade Center announced its results for the year 2025, which achieved significant growth in the activities of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector, enhancing the emirate’s position as one of the most prominent global destinations for business and trade events.

The Dubai World Trade Center received 2.97 million participants during the year 2025 as part of its events held through the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center and the Dubai Exhibition Centre, recording an annual increase of 12%.

This performance is due to the diverse events agenda, which included 401 events within the meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions, and commercial and consumer events sectors, with an annual increase of 6%.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Center Authority, said that the center achieved record results during the year 2025, which reflects the strength and flexibility of the business events system in Dubai and its continued contribution to Dubai’s economic agenda.”D33“The strong growth in participation and international interest across a wide range of sectors reflects the sustainable economic value that business events bring to the emirate.

He added that one of the most prominent achievements of this year was the completion of the first phase of the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center, which greatly enhanced Dubai’s ability to host international events, and confirmed its readiness to host major events in early 2026, the ability to implement large-scale projects while maintaining the continuity of operational operations according to the highest standards.

The Dubai World Trade Center hosted 134 events within the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector in 2025, attracting 2.19 million participants, with an annual growth of 8%.

This sector witnessed strong international participation, as its activities attracted about 951,000 international participants, or 43% of the total attendance, which reflects Dubai’s position as a global center for trade, investment and cooperation.

The number of exhibitors reached more than 63,000, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year, while the percentage of international exhibitors that came from outside the country reached 78%, which confirms Dubai’s ability to attract major leading international companies and decision makers in various major sectors.

The Dubai World Trade Center organized 14 major exhibitions and events in 2025, attracting about 630,000 participants, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year.

The number of international participants reached 261,000 participants, or 41% of the total attendance, and the number of exhibitors in the activities organized by the Center reached more than 20,000 exhibitors, 75% of which were international.

The Gulfood Manufacturing Exhibition contributed significantly to the growth of participation by 12% year-on-year, while the GITEX Global Exhibition recorded a growth of 10%.

The year 2025 witnessed the acceleration of the international expansion of the Dubai World Trade Center’s events portfolio, through the organization of successful editions of “GITEX Global” in key markets in Europe and Africa, in addition to expanding the scope of activities in Asia.

In addition, DXB Live, the integrated event organization and management services arm of the Dubai World Trade Centre, achieved outstanding performance in 2025, providing comprehensive solutions to more than 50 major international exhibitions, conferences, festivals and events.

Building on its success in Dubai, including events such as Coffee World – Dubai, the World Police Summit, the ICOM General Conference, and the Hatta Cultural Nights, DXB Live has expanded its regional and global presence, supporting landmark projects in 13 global cities, achieving widespread acclaim for its excellence in execution and creativity.

The performance of the sectors reflects the diversity of the activities of the Dubai World Trade Center, in line with the priorities of the Dubai Economic Agenda.”D33“.

The healthcare, medicine and science sector maintained its position as the most prominent performing sectors, as it witnessed the organization of 23 events that attracted about 436,000 participants, representing 20% ​​of the total participants in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector activities.

Key events included the World Health Expo – WHX “Formerly known as the Arab Health Exhibition”, the Arab Dental Exhibition “AIDEC”, the Dubai International Pharmaceutical and Technology Conference and Exhibition “DUPHAT”, and the “WHX LabsPreviously known as Medlab, and the Dubai International Dermatology and Laser Conference and Exhibition “Dubai Derma”.

The ICT, electronics and emerging technologies sector came in second place with 341,000 participants participating in 11 events, an increase of 21% year-on-year, driven by the GITEX Global event and the Expand North Star event.

The food and beverage sector came in third place across seven events that attracted 280,000 participants, the most prominent of which were the Gulfood and Gulfood Manufacturing exhibitions.

The list of the most prominent sectors performing in fourth place included the consumer goods and retail sector, with the participation of 117,000 participants, in events such as the China Home Life Exhibition, the World Electronic Cigarette Exhibition, and the Baby Expo, while the security, defense and safety sector recorded the attendance of 105,000 participants in a group of events, the most prominent of which was the Intersec exhibition, thus achieving fifth place.

Other sectors with outstanding performance included the construction sector (Big 5 Exhibition), the beauty and health care sector (Beauty World Middle East), the energy and environment sector (Watex and Middle East Energy Technology Exhibition), the automotive sector Automechanika Dubai, the travel and tourism sector (Arabian Travel Market), and the sports and fitness sector (Dubai Bodybuilding Exhibition).

In addition to the existing events, seven new exhibitions were launched in 2025, which contributed to diversifying the agenda and attracted 30,000 participants and 750 exhibitors.

These new events at the Dubai World Trade Center included the Middle East Events Exhibition, the Middle East and North Africa Mining Conference, the Vision Plus Exhibition, and the K-Expo UAE, while the Dubai Exhibition Center hosted the GBEX Exhibition, the Middle East Hunting and Weapons Exhibition, and the My Plant and Garden Middle East Exhibition.

The Dubai World Trade Center hosted 25 conferences in 2025, attended by 62,000 participants, and included 11 new conferences that attracted 12,000 visitors. The most prominent conferences included the Arab Media Summit, the Affiliate World Dubai Conference, the Human Resources Summit and Exhibition, the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, and the Amazon Internet Services Summit – AWS Dubai.

The Dubai World Trade Center hosted 14 events for international organizations and associations, attended by 29,000 participants, most of which were new or one-time events, confirming Dubai’s continued ability to attract global professional networks, international conferences and diverse sector communities.

The most prominent events included the Emirates Ear, Nose, Throat and Audiology Forum, the Emirates Diabetes and Endocrinology Conference, the Global Shipping Alliance Conference, and the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

The Dubai World Trade Center continued implementing the master plan for the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center in Expo City during the year 2025, as the first phase of the expansion was completed, bringing the total area allocated for exhibitions to 140,000 square meters.

As the center progressed through the stages of operation and preparation, it hosted 36 events in which 319,000 participants participated.

Ten exhibitions and eight conferences held at the center attracted 130,000 participants and 1,800 exhibitors, confirming the center’s readiness as expansion work continues. The Dubai Exhibition Center will greatly enhance Dubai’s ability to host several major international events at the same time.

Dubai World Trade Center continued to enhance its growth strategy based on an integrated business system in 2025, enhancing the strength and integration of its diverse business portfolio.

The centre’s Real Estate Development Department delivered a strong performance during the year, as it made progress in its joint project with Emaar Properties through the launch of Terra Gardens, the second phase of Expo Living, a full-service residential project within Expo City Dubai.

In addition, the center’s asset management recorded record levels of occupancy rates, as the commercial properties in One Central, Sheikh Rashid Tower, and the Convention Tower achieved an occupancy rate of 97%, reflecting the continued demand for premium office space, while the occupancy rate in the residential units of Expo Village reached 96%.

The Dubai World Trade Center Free Zone continued its strong growth in 2025, granting licenses to 850 new companies, and establishing its position as a dynamic business ecosystem.

The free zone has enhanced the benefits it offers to companies through specialized platforms established within its jurisdiction, while expanding its existing business support infrastructure through partnerships with 11 licensed business centers.

This contributed to improving access to flexible workspace solutions and providing integrated support to companies. The free zone also introduced a framework for multiple share classes to enhance the growth of the next generation of companies and improve the flexibility of capital structure.

His Excellency Hilal Saeed Al Marri said: The record number of events and the breadth of international participation in 2025 reflects the strength of Dubai, a dynamic business destination and a global center for business and innovation, and in light of a rapidly changing global environment, the ability to adapt and long-term planning remains essential. The Dubai World Trade Center continues its commitment to sustainable investment in infrastructure, including the continued expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Center, to support Dubai’s long-term economic priorities. These investments maintain the readiness of the Dubai World Trade Center to support the future growth ambitions of the emirate, and enhance Global partnerships, and achieving a sustainable economic impact in the coming years.