Dubai wins 175 bids to host major business events

Dubai secured an impressive 175 bids in the first half of 2024 to host major business events through this year and beyond, marking a 24 per cent increase from the same period last year.

These bid wins include prestigious international conferences, congresses and incentive meetings that are expected to bring more than 92,000 delegates to the emirate

Covering diverse sectors and professions, these successful bids reflect the key role of business events in Dubai's Economic Agenda D33, aiming to double the city’s economy by 2033 and strengthen its status among the world’s top three cities for living, working and visiting.

Dubai Business Events (DBE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the city’s official convention bureau, collaborated closely with stakeholders and industry leaders to secure these significant events.

In addition to successful bidding activity, recent months have seen further global recognition for Dubai’s status as a leading business events hub.

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Dubai the top city in the Middle East for the number of association meetings hosted in 2023, while Cvent ranked it number one in its ‘Top Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa’.

Business events continue to strengthen #Dubai’s knowledge economy and contribute to tourism growth, with the city winning an impressive 175 bids in the first six months of 2024 to host events through 2024 and beyond. An increase of 24% compared to the same period last year, these… pic.twitter.com/XyIzcAdUVp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 24, 2024

"Our vibrant calendar of upcoming events will bring together industry leaders, visionaries and delegates from all over the world, taking advantage of and feeding into our knowledge economy and propelling collective growth, and we look forward to welcoming them to Dubai," said Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

Dubai’s popularity as a destination for corporate and incentive events continues to surge as a direct result of its range of destination offerings that meet all budget requirements, a wide selection of international hotels, its world-class infrastructure and meetings facilities.

Events captured in the first half of 2024 for these segments include Modicare Advisors Incentive 2024, Vkusno i Tochka Convention 2024, World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2024, and OPPO Guangdong Mobile Communication Incentive 2025.

Conferences and congresses captured in the first half of this year include: The International Cotton Association Conference 2025, IFHNOS Summit 2025, WC A World Annual Conference 2025, and Rhinology World Congress 2028.