Throughout this year, Dubai has maintained its position as a leading destination for meetings in the region. It has once again been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa for the number of meetings hosted, according to both ICCA and Cvent. Additionally, when considering the number of participants per international association meeting, Dubai ranked first according to ICCA, and Cvent further reinforced this by including the city in the list of the top 25 meeting destinations in the region. These accomplishments highlight the city’s exceptional capability to efficiently and easily meet the needs of international event organizers, solidifying its status as a global leader in the business events sector, catering to various sizes and types of events.
The Dubai Business Events office, which is the official entity responsible for attracting events and conferences in the city and operates under the Dubai Economic and Tourism Department, received the Association Development Award during the ICCA Middle East Summit. The event took place at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in partnership with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
Knowledge Exchange
The award was presented by Fatima bint Jafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, in recognition of Dubai Business Events’ efforts in empowering associations, strengthening collaboration, and facilitating knowledge exchange while preserving the heritage of this vital sector and enhancing the global competitiveness of the business events industry in the region, aligning with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33. This award is part of the recognition awards presented at the summit, which celebrated leadership initiatives that foster innovation, collaboration, and legacy within the business events sector in the Middle East.
The summit featured discussions among prominent leaders, association officials, stakeholders, and representatives from regional destinations to explore strategies for building a resilient and sustainable meetings sector.
Best Practices
Dubai Business Events participated in a panel discussion titled “Future of Destination Leadership: Unlocking Regional Potential through Creativity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability,” alongside representatives from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan. Moderated by Hamka de Young, Director of Education and Impact at ICCA, the session focused on best practices to enhance regional competitiveness in the business events sector through creativity, inclusivity, and sustainability. It emphasized ways to enhance collaboration and share strategies to tackle challenges and achieve growth across key destinations.
The award exemplifies Dubai Business Events’ commitment to developing the associations ecosystem in Dubai. The Dubai Association Centre (DAC) has provided opportunities for over 80 international associations to strengthen their presence in the emirate. Additionally, the “Ambassador” program reinforces this approach with a network of more than 370 ambassadors who contributed to securing 51 bids for hosting events in the first half of 2025.
Business Destination
Ahmed Al Khaja, Executive Director of the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, stated: “Receiving this award reflects our strategic vision and collaborative efforts to enhance Dubai’s status as a global hub for knowledge and creativity. We recognize the significant role associations of various sizes and sectors play in contributing to Dubai’s growth through knowledge exchange, sector development, and economic impact. Key entities like the Dubai Association Centre have created a conducive environment for empowering these associations, which aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 aimed at doubling Dubai’s economy and establishing its position as a premier global destination for business and entertainment. We take pride in our membership with ICCA and value our collaboration with partners and stakeholders to advance the business events sector globally.”
Dubai’s participation in the ICCA Middle East Summit underscores its commitment to collaborating with sector officials both regionally and globally to discuss key topics and issues shaping the future of events, including sustainability, the adoption of artificial intelligence, leaving a lasting legacy, and smart tourism.
Attracting Events
The summit’s activities align closely with Dubai’s ambition to attract events that stimulate creativity, promote knowledge across sectors, and generate measurable economic impact, all under the framework of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33. The program included a study from Dubai entitled “From Event to Sustainable Impact: How a Global Conference Achieved Immediate Economic Gains and Lasting Legacy in Dubai,” as well as sessions focused on the balance between human thinking and artificial intelligence, AI-supported destination marketing, and an interactive workshop on advanced technologies to ensure the sector’s preparedness for the future. The summit closely aligns with Dubai’s ambition to attract events that foster creativity and innovation, encourage knowledge sharing across multiple sectors, and deliver economic impact, supporting the D33 agenda.
The ICCA Middle East Summit is a key event within the international outreach strategy of Dubai Business Events, serving as an important platform for fostering relationships and enhancing communication with international associations and organizations, while also facilitating partnerships that enrich the business events ecosystem in the region.