Dubai has a deep-rooted history at the global crossroads of trade. For centuries, the young, provincial port served as a strategic maritime hub on the iconic Silk Road – a series of cultural and economic trade routes between networking civilisations, stretching from Europe in the west to China in the east.
Although the Silk Road is more metaphorical than physical these days, Dubai’s significance on the global stage has been underlined by futuristic air and land infrastructure, developed to complement the nautical roots of the city’s trading heritage.
DWTC has built a reputation for being much more than just an events venue – it is now a destination in its own right
With close to 60 million passengers passing through its airports in 2012, Dubai is internationally recognised as a decisive player in connecting the world. Nowhere is this more apparent than for the business traveller. The emirate expects to almost double the number of business visitors entering its borders by the end of the decade; four million a year are anticipated by 2020. At the heart of this push is Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the MENASA region’s largest Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) venue operator and event organiser. In 2012 alone, DWTC’s calendar of events generated in excess of AED8bn ($2.22bn) for the year – a 25 percent increase on the AED6.5bn ($1.78bn) contributed in 2011.
As a regional event hub for global commerce and entertainment, Dubai’s business and consumer events sector is a key pillar of economic growth forecasts. In terms of economic impact, Dubai continues to rank among the global leading MICE destinations with DWTC fuelling 2.2 percent of the emirate’s GDP contribution in 2012 and more than 45,000 jobs being supported directly and indirectly by the sector.
In terms of growing visitor attendance, international participation and spend per attendee, DWTC is working to sustainably enhance the strategic relevance of MICE, and its GDP value. Of the venue’s record 1.85 million visitors reported in 2012, 1.5 million attended large-scale MICE events and 38 percent of these were international travellers. This inbound contingent had a citywide spend 11 times greater than domestic participants.
Beyond the figures
Yet the figures, successful as they are, only tell part of the story. As one of the region’s longest-serving MICE venues, DWTC draws on more than 30 years of experience and a rich pool of expertise that many other regional players have yet to accrue.
DWTC has built a reputation for being much more than just an events venue – it is now a destination in its own right. With a rich diversity of services, food and beverage outlets, and accommodation, DWTC is a bustling visitor hub in the heart of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan and dynamic cities. Its ample offering makes DWTC Business Destinations‘ Best Congress and Convention Centre, Middle East, 2014.
Dubai has emerged as a leading regional commercial capital with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a world-class business environment. It has become the logical place to do business in the Middle East and provides investors with a unique and comprehensive value-added platform. With its strategic location, tax-free living and consistently strong economic outlook, Dubai has regenerated its ancient Silk Road credentials and established itself as a gateway for all manner of companies to target markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Asian subcontinent.
What sets Dubai apart is its reputation as one of the world’s most exciting leisure destinations. Famed for a diverse choice of hotels and resorts, mega shopping malls, white sand beaches, orange-hued sand dunes and stunning attractions, the possibility to seamlessly combine business with leisure only strengthens the city’s appeal.
Digital assistance
To help business travellers plan their trips, DWTC has launched an interactive, 3D ‘Neighbourhood Finder’, giving online visitors a visual tour of key attractions and hotels in close proximity to the venue, including onsite options. The tool will incorporate a Google Maps plug-in allowing visitors to find restaurants and malls, read reviews, and make bookings. Soon a mobile app for iOS and Android will be launched, featuring a ‘Way Finder’, allowing users to navigate their way to points of interest in real time. Streamlining the customer journey is a core facet of DWTC’s strategy.
Some of the globe’s leading hotel brands and restaurants are within walking distance of the venue
One of DWTC’s key selling points is its position as the region’s only MICE destination to offer a comprehensive management service under one roof. Through its standalone Hospitality and Event Serve divisions, DWTC offers an organiser, exhibitor, customer or visitor a full end-to-end service. There is no need to employ third parties; at DWTC you have one point of contact in one venue, streamlining the whole process.
For the business visitor, the same applies. Booking excursions and activities can be done through DWTC’s partner destination management company, Alpha Tours, ensuring visitors maximise their time, for the best price. With more than 1,000 hotel rooms and serviced apartments located onsite, picking the right accommodation is as simple as clicking a mouse.
Some of the globe’s leading hotel brands and restaurants are within walking distance of the venue, while DWTC’s dedicated Dubai Metro station means the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, and its surrounding downtown neighbourhood, including the flagship Dubai Mall, are only a few minutes away.
As Dubai focuses on the next instalment of the ambitious expansion plan laid out by its visionary leaders, DWTC will continue to be at the heart of the city’s business, trade, commerce and leisure growth.
