2017 most successful year to date for Dubai Business Events

Dubai Business Events (DBE) secured a total of 212 bids throughout 2017, representing its most successful year to date, the city’s official convention bureau announced today. As a result of secured bids and proposals in 2017, Dubai is set to welcome an additional 95,000 delegates, delivering an economic impact of approximately AED 715 million.

The Emirate submitted a total of 354 bids throughout 2017, and among the wins were those for bids submitted before 2017. At the end of the year, 104 bid submissions were still awaiting decision. The bids and proposals secured in 2017 mark an increase of 64% over 2016 when a total o2f 129 bids were won, further cementing the Emirate’s leading position as a global business events destination. This success also comes as DBE celebrates its 15^th anniversary as Dubai’s official convention bureau. Since its establishment in 2003, DBE has been pivotal in shaping the city’s world-class business events offering.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “The exponential increase in bids won in 2017 is a direct reflection of Dubai’s rapid growth as a leading business hub. 2017’s success in attracting international business events builds on the steady growth the city has experienced, establishing Dubai as a destination of choice for business events from around the globe. These successes have been made possible due to the close collaboration with our stakeholders and partners, who play a crucial role in realising Dubai’s strategic objectives. International and regional business events not only contribute to the growth in overall visitor numbers to Dubai, they also play an important role in the development of our knowledge economy.

Key bid wins from 2017 include the Baby Care Annual Incentive, with an expected attendance of 1,500 delegates, as well as the Amway Russia Annual Incentive, which will bring 2,700 employees to Dubai; both business events are set to take place in 2018. Other notable wins in 2017 include:

• • The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Geospatial Week, which will attract around 1,500 delegates from global markets, and is set to take place in this city in 2019,
  • The 71^st edition of the International Astronautical Congress with an expected attendance of 5,000 delegates in 2020,
  • The Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, which will see 1,500 attendees in 2022.

The Emirate is currently preparing to host key industry events in 2018, including: the Institute of Internal Auditors Congress, and the World Cardiology Congress. This year, Dubai is also host city for the 57^th edition of the ICCA Congress, a leading conference industry event, taking place from 11-14 November. It will see meeting industry professionals from all over the world gather in Dubai to discuss key challenges and opportunities within the business events industry.