Dubai’s business events and exhibitions sector gaining momentum
DUBAI: Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) hosted the latest quarterly meetings of its Business Events and Exhibitions Commitees, providing industry stakeholders with updates on restarting and scaling up events since their resumption in September and the roadmap for the sector as Dubai continues to lead global recovery.
Held virtually to maximise atendance during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the two meetings, presided by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-general, Dubai Tourism, were part of a series of meetings and townhalls the department has hosted throughout the global pandemic to both keep stakeholders updated on all stages of the recovery and obtain their inputs on various issues.
During the meetings, atendees were provided with updates on the success of events hosted in recent months, including Gulfood and Gitex, the strong interest from planners and meetings professionals globally, and ongoing marketing efforts to raise awareness and consideration for Dubai as a host city for business events. Also discussed was the Dubai Global Events Re-opening Forum, hosted last month, which atracted the interest of a global audience.
Helal Almarri said, “Guided by the city’s prudent leadership over the past year, Dubai has been able to lead the way globally not only in wider tourism recovery, but specifically in the restart of business events. Thanks to the efforts of our stakeholders across the sector, the momentum we built at the end of 2020 has gathered pace this year, with strong optimism for the coming months to further leverage our status as one of the few cities globally to be safely hosting business events of all sizes. As the countdown towards Expo 2020 Dubai continues, business events are playing a vital role in atracting more visitors and showcasing this as a safe city for international gatherings, and also in recapturing economic growth across all economic sectors. We remain atuned to the needs of our stakeholders as we continue on our path and welcome their input, collaboration and expertise.”
Atendees highlighted the positive impact Dubai is having on the global stage, the strong prospects for atracting and hosting more major business events, and the growing confidence among stakeholders. Over the coming months, many of them will be involved in major events taking place in the city, including Arabian Travel Market, Arab Health, International Astronautical Congress and Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.
During Q&A sessions held during both commitee meetings, Helal Almarri answered a wide range of questions related to the vaccination programme, testing, safety measures and the latest guidelines and best practices for organisers and venues.
In March, key leaders in the business events sector and stakeholders from across Dubai shared their experiences of restarting exhibitions, trade shows and conferences over the last six months at the Dubai Global Events Re-opening Forum, as the global industry looks to follow the city’s lead and recapture momentum.