World Trade Center Dubai Welcomed 2.47 Million visitors in 2023

The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has experienced a significant increase in visitation and participation in 2023, with a total of 2.47 million participants, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous year. This growth is a testament to the strength of DWTC's diversified and content-rich calendar, which featured 301 Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), business and consumer events, and saw a notable 23% rise year-on-year.

The success of DWTC's events was driven by 107 Exhibitions, International Association Conventions, and Industry Conferences, which collectively attracted 1.56 million attendees, marking a substantial 33% increase compared to the previous year. Of these attendees, over 722,000 were international, representing an unprecedented 60% growth year-on-year. Additionally, these events saw a participation of 53,789 exhibiting companies, a remarkable 45% increase over the previous year.

Notably, an unprecedented 78% of these exhibiting companies were international, further reinforcing DWTC's ability to consistently draw new and repeat international participants. This surge in foreign business attendees aligns with the goals of the D33 Agenda, which is to propel Dubai to be a top-three global economic city by 2033.

The diversity of DWTC's robust events calendar was further exemplified by its consumer and leisure events portfolio, which grew to host 35 entertainment, live, and leisure events, collectively attracting over 850,000 visitors.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, highlighted the success of DWTC's exhibitions and events portfolio, emphasizing its role as a catalyst for agenda-shaping discussions and actionable agreements. The results underscored the robust dynamics of Dubai's economy and its strategic focus on key industry sectors, reaffirming Dubai's leading status as a global hub for knowledge, innovation, and business.

In 2023, DWTC welcomed 33 new entrants to its events calendar, including 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 events collectively attracted nearly 95,000 participants and over 2,000 exhibiting companies.

The top-performing industries at DWTC in 2023 included Healthcare, Medical and Scientific, Information Technology, Food, Hotel and Catering, Consumer Goods, Building, Construction, and Facility Management. These sectors attracted a significant number of attendees and demonstrated growth in participation compared to the previous year.

The experiential agency DXB Live of DWTC showcased remarkable expansion in 2023, managing a diverse portfolio of 500 events, including exhibitions, conferences, public entertainment events, concerts, weddings, and more. The agency was the primary contractor for 65 exhibitions, building 300 exhibition stands over 145,000 square meters.

The DWTC Authority Free Zone issued 601 new licenses in 2023, bringing the total number of licensed companies within the free zone to 1,900. This highlights the free zone's role in driving economic growth and entrepreneurship within Dubai.

Dubai is a thriving business and trade destination. With a diverse and content-rich calendar, DWTC continues to attract international participants and position itself as an industry leader.