Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, brought a highly visible presence, including 18 co-exhibitors, to North America’s largest trade show for incentive travel, meetings and events. IMEX America.
In addition to engaging with meeting professionals within the trade show itself, which took place in Las Vegas from October 17-19, DBE also participated in partner events and hosted an exclusive evening reception for invited buyers.
Dubai was also named the Middle East’s leading meetings and conference destination 2023 by the World Travel Awards last week.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Collaboration and cooperation are critical to achieving the vision of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). “Business events will continue to play a key role in driving economic growth, knowledge development and increased visitor numbers, as we strive together to achieve D33’s ambition of becoming one of the world’s top three cities.” .
DBE intends to take advantage of the growth momentum of tenders awarded in recent months. The list of association events secured by Dubai includes the 2024 International Meeting of the Society of Aesthetics, the 2024 International Tug & Salvage, the 2027 World Congress of Medical Informatics and the 2027 ISAPS Olympiad World Congress. Dubai’s growing stature as an incentive destination has also been reinforced by securing Herbalife. Korea Incentive, Temenos Conference and Token 2049, all of which will take place next year, as well as the Amway ESAN incentive in 2025.
In the first half of 2023, Dubai’s importance as a global MICE destination was boosted with a 44% year-on-year growth in bids won for business events. DBE, with the support of partners and stakeholders, reports that it has organized 143 conferences, congresses, meetings and incentives in the first six months of 2023. They are expected to attract more than 94,000 visitors in the coming years, including experts and world leaders in various fields.
