DWTC and Informa create MICE powerhouse as Dubai eyes $14.7bn conference target
Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Group have announced a strategic venture to create a global powerhouse in Exhibitions and Event Management, operating out of the Middle East – South Asia – Africa regions.
This partnership between two commercial equals with highly complementary assets and capabilities drives the creation of a new DWTC-Informa company – Informa International – that will be fully operational by Q4 2025.
This new entity headquartered in Dubai, will be servicing super-regional MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) markets, in addition to leveraging their scale to export their home-grown megabrands across the world.
Dubai conferences and events
The move anchors DWTC's commitment to tripling Dubai's MICE Sector GDP contribution to AED54bn ($14.7bn) annually by 2033, in line with targets in the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda – attracting investments and enabling cross-border trade through its reputable B2B Events' platforms.
Equally, it will focus on cementing Dubai as the global epicentre for business and enterprise – even as the city gains in repute as the world's preferred MICE industry hub.
Informa International will include exhibitions, confexes, conferences, professional training and accreditation businesses of both DWTC and Informa in Dubai and connected partner markets, creating a market leader with revenues of more than $700m.
The partnership has scope to achieve double digit growth as it expands beyond Dubai and the wider Middle East, across high-growth markets globally.
The strategic partnership aims to establish a global MICE powerhouse by integrating DWTC's international events portfolio with Informa Group's UAE-based and partner market events, managing more than 40 market-leading brands across high-growth sectors such as:
Food (Gulfood)
ICT (GITEX)
Information Security (GISEC)
Healthcare (WHX)
Energy (Middle East Energy)
Aviation (Dubai Airshow)
It also accelerates global expansion by extending DWTC's brands into the fastest-growing B2B event markets, including the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Additionally, the partnership strengthens Dubai's position as a leading global business hub by attracting flagship events from Informa's portfolio of more than 100 specialist global brands across various industries, aligning with the city's economic strategy and the expansion of venue infrastructure, including the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) from 2026.
Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General, DWTCA, said: 'DWTC has anchored and enabled Dubai's leadership as a preferred global hub for the MICE Sector. With the city's flagship events like GITEX and Gulfood expanding internationally, and Informa's portfolio of leading shows in complementary sectors across the super-region – this strategic partnership is set to be a transformation engine for cross-border trade and enterprise, co-creating sustainable value for the industries and economies served through the convening power of B2B Events.
'DWTC has built a portfolio of flagship B2B event brands and Informa is the perfect partner with whom to combine strengths and capture the next stage of growth in this high-impact sector.'
Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa PLC, said: 'We already have a great partnership in Dubai with DWTC and today's announcement will further expand our relationship, allowing us to create something quite unique and special together in what is a highly vibrant and fast-growing market.'
Informa Group, a FTSE-100 company and international market leader in Live B2B Events, B2B Digital Services, and Academic Markets, has operated in the UAE for more than 25 years, focusing on B2B events.
DWTC has been a leader in B2B Events in the UAE for more than four decades. It owns and operates the two major venues in the emirate, the International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), supporting city-wide activation anchored by the two landmarks.
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