UAE's exhibitions, conferences industry is key pillar of growth

The exhibitions and conferences industry in the UAE continues to solidify its role as a fundamental pillar of economic growth, contributing significantly to the country's strategic goals of building a diversified, knowledge-based economy aligned with the UAE's vision for sustainable development.

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This vital sector has witnessed rapid advancement in organising and hosting major international events, supported by world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a blend of national talent and global expertise that collectively position the UAE as a premier regional and global hub for large-scale exhibitions and conferences.

In 2025, the sector maintained strong performance, driving economic diversification and creating new growth opportunities across key sectors, while also continuing to host high-profile international events.

According to data from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, the ADNEC Group contributed Dhs8.5 billion directly to the UAE's GDP in 2024, up from Dhs7.4 billion in 2023, highlighting the growing impact and scale of hosted events.

ADNEC's venues, including Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Ain Convention Centre, and Excel London, hosted more than 1,000 events in 2024, drawing a record-breaking 5.4 million visitors, the highest in the group's history.

Capital Events, ADNEC’s event management arm, generated Dhs10 billion in business deals through its exhibitions, while the group's hotel portfolio welcomed over 1.531 million guests. Capital Hospitality provided more than 40 million meals across 45 locations and managed approximately 2,200 events, including one of the region's largest public iftars, serving nearly 8,000 guests.