Dubai World Trade Centre Hosts 2.47 Million Visitors In 2023, Up By 25%

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has reported a remarkable increase in visitor numbers in 2023, with a total of 2.47 million participants, marking a 25% rise from the previous year. This surge in attendance is attributed to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, alongside business and consumer events, which collectively saw a 23% year-on-year growth. The DWTC hosted an impressive lineup of 107 exhibitions and international conferences, drawing in 1.56 million attendees, which is a significant 33% increase from the previous year. Notably, the international attendee demographic experienced a substantial 60% growth, with over 722,000 visitors from abroad.

The number of companies exhibiting at DWTC also saw a notable uptick, with 53,789 companies participating in 2023 – a 45% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the consumer and leisure events portfolio expanded, with DWTC hosting 35 entertainment, live, and leisure events that attracted over 850,000 visitors. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, credited this success to the diverse range of exhibitions and events offered at DWTC and Dubai's strategic focus on key industry sectors.

In a significant development for 2023, DWTC welcomed 33 new events to its calendar. These included high-profile exhibitions and international conferences such as World of Coffee, World Police Summit, International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies - IFOS 2023, Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, and Asia Baby Children Maternity Exhibition. These additions collectively attracted close to 95,000 participants and more than 2,000 exhibiting companies.

The healthcare, medical, and scientific sector emerged as the top-performing industry at DWTC with 24 events that attracted 275,000 attendees. This sector accounted for one-fifth of all exhibitions and conventions held at the venue. Following closely were the information technology sector with 260,000 attendees and the food, hotel, and catering sector with 226,000 attendees.

DXB LIVE, the experiential agency of DWTC, managed an extensive portfolio of 500 events in 2023. This included a variety of exhibitions, conferences, public entertainment events, concerts, weddings, and graduation ceremonies. The agency was also the primary contractor for 65 exhibitions including flagship events like Gulfood and GITEX Global. Furthermore, the DWTC Authority Free Zone issued 601 new licenses in 2023, bringing the total number of licensed companies within the free zone to an impressive count of 1,900.

On the real estate front, DWTC's flagship development One Central achieved a remarkable occupancy rate of 95% in 2023. This achievement underscores DWTC's position as a premier destination for growth and innovation within its Free Zone.

The substantial growth in visitation and participation at DWTC in 2023 highlights Dubai's continued appeal as a global hub for business and leisure. The diverse range of events hosted by DWTC not only contributes significantly to Dubai's economy but also positions it as a key player in shaping discussions and agreements within various business and trade ecosystems.

With inputs from WAM