Cementing Dubai’s world leading position on the global meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) scene, the most recent Union of International Associations’ International Meetings Statistics Report moved the emirate up to the enviable 10th spot.
Released in June 2017, the report covered the year 2016 and saw Dubai – once again the only city in the Middle East and Africa to appear in the top 25 – rise up from its 14th position in the previous edition.
The annual report ranks over 1,150 cities globally based on the total number of international meetings that were held there during the year. In Dubai’s case, the figure reached a total of 180 meetings taking place in 2016.
PREDICTING SUCCESS
The next edition of the International Meetings Statistics Report may be some months away but MICE stakeholders in Dubai are already reporting strong 2017 performances and predicting further success for this year.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), revealed 2017 had, in terms of business events secured for the future, been the corporation’s most successful year-to-date with a 61 percent increase on 2016. “These new events will result in an additional 95,000 delegates attending events in Dubai in the coming years, driving an expected economic impact of AED715 million (USD194.69 million).”
Notable bookings made during 2017 include the 71st International Astronautical Congress, that will see some 5,000 space sector experts and delegates arrive in Dubai in 2020, ahead of the UAE Mars mission launch.
Later this year, Amway Russia Annual Incentive will gather an estimated 2,700 delegates in Dubai.
Also this year, The Baby Care Annual Incentive will bring 1,500 attendees from global markets to Dubai, and in 2019 the emirate will host International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Geospatial Week, with around 1,500 delegates. Looking ahead to 2022, some 1,500 delegates will attend the Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, Kazim revealed.
Alma Au Yeung, group director, lifestyle events, Emaar Hospitality Group is also looking forward to a full events calendar noting, “In addition to hosting MICE events all-through the year, Emaar Hospitality Group received a considerable number of MICE leads in the last quarter of 2017 for 2018-2019 to 2020 for large-scale high-profile events.”
David Loiseau, vice president, sales and distribution, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said the venue’s first year had been a success with multiple events and large organisations booking up to 10,000 people spread over weekends.
Additionally, Glenn Nobbs, general manager, Copthorne Hotel Dubai reported a positive 12 percent increase in meetings and events business at the venue from 2016 to 2017.
