• Dubai demonstrates the strength of its world-class infrastructure and business events industry at major trade show
• Dubai Business Events brings major presence to IMEX Frankfurt, with Emirates, Jumeirah Group and Expo 2020 Dubai among 24 partners co-exhibitor
• Agenda previews upcoming developments and key events in the city, including the 57^th edition of ICCA Congress set to take place this year

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 15 May 2018: Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and a division of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), is showcasing Dubai’s dynamic business events offering and services to international meetings, events, and incentives industry professionals at IMEX Frankfurt, which is taking place at Messe Frankfurt from 15-17 May. (Stand E500)

Alongside its co-exhibitors, DBE is showcasing the latest developments in Dubai’s world-class offerings which include state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure and the city’s renowned hospitality sector, further cementing the city’s status as a major business events destination. The bureau is also previewing key plans and activities currently in the pipeline for the year ahead, demonstrating a strong focus on transforming Dubai into a global knowledge hub.

DBE has brought 24 stakeholders and partners to the global trade show as co-exhibitors, including Emirates Airline, Expo 2020 Dubai and Jumeirah Group, offering a holistic view of Dubai’s business events infrastructure as the city engages with the industry on the international stage.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “IMEX offers an invaluable opportunity for the city and its stakeholders to communicate directly with meeting planners and business events organisers from Europe and around the world. With such a wide reach, the industry event acts as an ideal platform to support our ambitious Tourism Vision 2020 of bringing 20 million visitors a year to the city by 2020. Business events also play a crucial role in our city’s transformation into a global knowledge hub and, through our participation at events such as IMEX, we are focused on strengthening Dubai’s reputation as a leading business events destination and further increasing business visitation to the city.”

Expanding on these efforts, DBE continues to successfully host global activities, including immersive roadshows hosted in markets around the world, which create a unique platform to meet and engage with decision makers and executives in the meetings, associations and events industry. So far, DBE conducted roadshows across Europe, China, Southeast Asia and North America, while a number of future missions are planned to take place across India, Northeast Asia, the UK, Scandinavia and Russia over the course of the year. The roadshows strengthen Dubai’s visibility, as well as educate attendees on the city’s resources, opportunities for knowledge sharing, and the strong bidding assistance that Dubai Business Events offers to organisations and associations alike. DBE will also participate in other major trade shows in 2018, including The Meetings Show in London and IBTM World in Barcelona.

Steen Jakobsen, Director, Dubai Business Events said: “We’ve had another strong start to the year following on from our successes and milestone achievements in 2017. As the city continues to progress towards becoming a global knowledge hub, the business events industry is playing a crucial role to support Dubai’s journey in this direction. This year, Dubai is hosting the ICCA Congress for the first time in the Middle East, a testament to the growth this city has experienced and its emergence as a business events leader. Through a steady programme of activities, including our participation at IMEX Frankfurt, we look forward to creating abundant opportunities for our stakeholders to communicate with industry players from around the globe and achieving new heights of success in the business events industry.”

The 57th edition of the ICCA Congress, a leading conference industry event, is set to take place in Dubai from 11-14 November. It will see the gathering of meeting industry professionals from all over the world to discuss key challenges and opportunities within the business events industry. Dubai is also set to host a number of other significant business events this year, including; the World Cardiology Congress, the Baby Care Annual Incentive, as well as the Amway Russia Annual Incentive.

The biggest event ever to be held in Dubai, or the region, is also fast approaching: Expo 2020 Dubai. The six-month event is a global destination for everyone; a celebration of human ingenuity.  Expo 2020 expects to welcome 25 million visits, with 70 per cent of visitors coming from outside the UAE. It will be a hive of activity from 20 October, 2020 to 10 April, 2021, offering a diverse range of experiences, as well as hosting summits, business events, seminars, new product launches, networking opportunities and meetings. A 45,000 square metres conference and exhibition centre is being built at the doorstep of Expo 2020, providing visitors with access to 180 nations participating in Expo and some of the world’s greatest innovators, scientists, artists, world leaders, entrepreneurs and thinkers.

Gillian Hamburger, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region and we expect the MICE industry to capitalise on this unique opportunity to host their conferences and events with access to 180 participating nations and millions of visitors. Expo 2020, which promises to be a spectacular global meeting of minds, also presents a huge opportunity for travel and MICE companies to sell tickets with value-added travel and visitor services, develop their own travel packages and create one-of-a-kind, exceptional travel experiences for leisure and business travellers.”

Professionals in the travel and MICE trade who would like to explore business opportunities with Expo 2020 Dubai can meet and engage with the Expo team at the DBE stand (Stand E500) at IMEX Frankfurt.