DWTC welcomes 2.65 million attendees in 2024, MICE segment grows 26 percent

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) today announced its record-breaking performance in 2024, highlighting Dubai's continued economic growth and its position as a powerful international platform for driving business and trade. DWTC welcomed 2.65 million event participants in 2024, a 7% increase compared to the previous year, underscoring its significance in the global market.

This remarkable achievement is attributed to its rich event calendar, including 378 Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and business and consumer events, representing a substantial 26% year-on-year increase. These figures fully reflect Dubai's attractiveness as a global business hub, drawing significant international attention.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, stated, "Our achievements in 2024 are not just reflected in the numbers, but also in strengthening Dubai's position in the global market. The significant increase in international participation highlights the growing confidence in Dubai's vibrant business ecosystem and DWTC's role in facilitating meaningful business connections." This underscores the city's commitment to fostering international collaboration and economic growth.

DWTC's flagship MICE sector experienced significant growth, increasing from 107 events in 2023 to 135 in 2024. These events collectively attracted 2.03 million participants, representing a substantial 30% year-on-year increase. International participation in MICE events surged to over 942,000, accounting for 46% of total MICE participation, further solidifying Dubai's position as a premier global business destination, and highlighting its appeal to international businesses.

These industry-leading exhibitions and events attracted 58,665 exhibiting companies, a 9% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, international exhibiting companies accounted for a significant 77% of the total, further demonstrating Dubai's continued ability to attract international companies and enterprises. The surge in foreign companies' participation in Dubai's MICE activities further propels the realization of Dubai's economic agenda "D33," which aims to consolidate Dubai's position as one of the top three global cities for business and tourism.

Almarri added, "Our continued success in attracting new market events across industries is further testament to Dubai's unique appeal as a global hub where innovation meets opportunity. This momentum reinforces our confidence as we continue to advance our ambitious venue expansion strategy to meet growing global demand." This expansion is crucial to accommodate the increasing number of international events and participants.

In 2024, DWTC organized 20 flagship exhibitions and events, attracting 590,000 participants, a 14% year-on-year increase. Of these, 242,000 were international participants, accounting for 41% of the total. The number of exhibiting companies at DWTC exhibitions increased by 9% to 19,062, with over 15,000 being international exhibitors, representing 79% of the total. Internationally, KAOUN International strengthened DWTC's global influence by expanding flagship events beyond Dubai, with GITEX AFRICA in Morocco and the successful launch of GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 Asia in Singapore standing out.

The healthcare, medical, and scientific sectors remained DWTC's top-performing industry sectors, hosting 25 events and attracting over 465,000 participants, accounting for 23% of total MICE participation. This figure represents a 69% increase compared to 2023. Key events included WHX Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health), AEEDC, DUPHAT, WHX Labs Dubai (formerly Medlab), and Dubai Derma. The food, hospitality, and catering sectors ranked second, attracting over 283,000 participants, accounting for 14% of total MICE participation. Driven by Gulfood and Gulfood Manufacturing, the sector witnessed a significant 25% increase in participation compared to 2023. The information technology sector followed closely in third place, attracting over 281,000 participants, also accounting for 14% of total MICE participation. This sector was primarily driven by GITEX Global and its associated events, with participation increasing by 8% year-on-year.

Almarri concluded, "Our achievements in 2024 underscore our strategic focus on expanding Dubai's global events sector. Our DEC expansion represents a pivotal phase in enhancing our capacity to meet growing global demand, enabling us to significantly increase our event hosting capabilities and economic contribution over the next decade. This infrastructure investment, coupled with our industry diversification strategy and growing international appeal, positions DWTC not only to advance Dubai's economic agenda 'D33' but also to fundamentally reshape the emirate's role in global commerce and solidify its position as a world-leading business destination." This expansion is a testament to Dubai's commitment to becoming a global hub for business and innovation.