Dubai Business Events says 2016 was most successful year to date

Despite a slowdown across the general economy, last year was the most successful to date for Dubai’s events and conferences industry, according to Dubai Business Events (DBE).

The convention bureau said it won 129 bids and proposals for upcoming conferences, meetings and incentive trips in partnership with other stakeholders.

DBE said it also secured 79 per cent more business events in 2016 than the previous year.

These will have an economic impact of Dhs400m and bring in 75,000 additional visitors to Dubai over the next six years, it added.

Among the upcoming conferences are the Congress of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Annual Congress 2017, World Congress of Cardiology 2018 and World Down Syndrome Congress 2020.

DBE said this success was down to its Al Safeer Ambassador Programme under which 350 prominent local scientists, healthcare professionals, business people and government officials assist in bringing in international meetings and conferences.

In 2016, these ambassadors secured 25 evens with an expected attendance of 30,000 delegates between now and 2021.

“As our reputation as a premier business event destination continues to grow, it provides the city with a unique opportunity to showcase the scale of our ambition in finding solutions to worldwide challenges, the diversity of our economy, and our keenness to collaborate as we build a stronger knowledge economy,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Dubai hosted several major events for the first time last year including the Global Women’s Forum, Young President’s Organization Edge and the Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

This year it will host the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress, International Primary Immunodeficiencies Congress as well as several incentives from major international companies.