Dubai World Trade Centre aims to lift the annual economic output of Dubai’s business events sector to AED54 billion by 2033, as it runs more than 100 exhibitions, conferences and business events across two venues in the final quarter of 2026.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) the dual-venue model at DWTC and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai was supporting larger international events.
Major events hosted by DWTC generated AED25.03 billion in economic output in 2025, up from AED22.35 billion in 2024. Of the 2025 total, about AED14.66 billion was gross value added to Dubai’s economy, WAM reported.
The push is backed by the AED10 billion expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre. The completed first phase raised indoor exhibition space to 140,000 square metres, with capacity for up to 50,000 visitors a day.
The second phase is expected to increase indoor space to 160,000 square metres. The final phase, due by 2031, is planned to reach 180,000 square metres across a 1.2-kilometre development, accommodating up to 65,000 visitors a day and more than 20 events at once.
Julfar said 2026 was the first year events were organised across both venues. He cited Gulfood as an example that had more than doubled in size, attracting more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.
The fourth-quarter calendar includes GITEX Global, Big 5 Global, WETEX, Gulfood Manufacturing and Automechanika, covering technology, construction, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, sustainability, trade and tourism.
