DWTC and Informa Unite to Establish Global MICE Powerhouse

Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Group have announced a strategic partnership to create a leading entity in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions sector, headquartered in Dubai. This collaboration aligns with DWTC's commitment to enhancing Dubai's MICE industry's contribution to the economy, targeting an annual GDP impact of AED 54 billion by 2033, as outlined in the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda.

The newly formed entity, Informa International, will consolidate the exhibitions, conferences, and training businesses of both DWTC and Informa in Dubai and connected partner markets. This merger creates a market leader with revenues exceeding $700 million, encompassing over 40 prominent brands across various sectors, including Food , Information and Communications Technology , Information Security , Healthcare , Energy , and Aviation .

Informa Group, a FTSE-100 company, has been operating in the UAE for over 25 years, specialising in B2B events, digital services, and academic markets. DWTC, a leader in B2B events in the UAE for more than three decades, owns and operates major venues in Dubai, including the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre . The partnership aims to leverage the combined strengths of both entities to export homegrown megabrands to high-growth markets across the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

The venture is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year, focusing on the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa regions, with ambitions to expand globally. The partnership is anticipated to generate revenues exceeding $700 million, with potential for double-digit growth as it expands beyond Dubai and the wider Middle East into high-growth markets globally.

This strategic alliance aligns with DWTC's goal to triple Dubai's MICE sector GDP contribution to AED 54 billion by 2033, as part of the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda. The D33 Agenda, launched on January 4, 2023, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to drive sustainable economic growth through innovative approaches and double Dubai's GDP by 2033.

The partnership also aims to attract marquee events from Informa's extensive portfolio of over 100 specialist brands to Dubai, supporting the city's economic agenda and leveraging new venue infrastructure coming online in 2026. This move is expected to cement Dubai's position as a global hub for business and enterprise, enhancing its reputation as the world's preferred MICE industry destination.

Dubai's MICE sector has been a significant contributor to the city's economy. Large-scale events at DWTC generated a total economic output of AED 18.3 billion, with a remarkable AED 10.5 billion retained as Gross Value Added to Dubai's GDP. The city also recorded 437 successful bids for business events, further cementing the important role business events are playing in achieving the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to consolidate Dubai's status as a global hub for business and leisure.

The partnership between DWTC and Informa is expected to further boost Dubai's tourism sector, which welcomed 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, marking a 9% year-on-year increase. This growth aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to double the size of Dubai's economy by 2033.