Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) further strengthened its role as a key driver of economic growth in Dubai, generating a record economic output of AED 25.03 billion through its 2025 mega business events calendar. As a leading platform for international trade and industrial collaboration, DWTC continues to support the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by attracting global businesses, talent and innovation to the emirate.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, said: “Dubai’s rise as a global hub for international events has been shaped by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Guided by our vision, Dubai has built an ecosystem that enables businesses from around the world to come together, collaborate and grow. The record performance achieved by Dubai World Trade Center in 2025 reflects the confidence that global industries, investors and innovators have in Dubai’s world-class infrastructure, business environment and ability to bring people, ideas and capital together to create value.”
“These results highlight the power of global business events to act as catalysts for investment flows, companies and market expansion, and generate tangible economic impact across diverse sectors. We continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as the venue of choice for the world’s most influential business gatherings, forge new partnerships, carve new avenues of growth and contribute to the industries of the future.”
DWTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) highlights another year of strong economic growth, with major business events increasing economic output by 12% year-on-year. Promoted by 108 major exhibitions, international association conferences and industry conferences, the event attracted approximately 2.18 million participants and contributed AED 14.66 billion in gross value added (GVA) to Dubai’s GDP, making it the highest annual economic impact ever recorded.
Helal Saeed Almari, Director-General of the DWTC Authority, said: “2025 will be a record year for DWTC across multiple indicators, and will continue to grow in scale and resilience of Dubai’s business events ecosystem and the economic value it generates across the economy. For over 46 years, DWTC has built a strong track record of convening global industry and delivering world-class events, and that consistency continues to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for business.” Innovation and international cooperation.
The continued capacity expansion of Expocity’s Dubai Exhibition Center will further strengthen Dubai’s ability to host larger and more impactful global events, while supporting the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and contributing to sustainable economic growth. ”
DWTC’s 2025 calendar recorded a continued increase in both the number and size of large-scale events held across the venue. The 108 mega-events attracted more than 2.18 million participants, of which nearly 947,000 (44%) were international travelers, reinforcing Dubai’s prominence as a world-leading destination for business tourism and international industry conferences and conferences.
International participants continued to generate significantly higher economic impact compared to domestic participants, spending an average of more than Dh9,900 per event, almost seven times more than domestic participants.
This increased contribution was due to longer average stays and expenditures such as air travel, accommodation, retail stores, restaurants, and travel with work colleagues and family, which had a greater economic impact on cities. The average length of stay for foreign participants per event was 5.6 days, with 22 companions per 100 participants, reinforcing the extensive tourism and hospitality benefits generated by Dubai’s business events sector.
The economic activity generated by DWTC mega-events in 2025 is estimated to have supported more than 94,000 jobs across the MICE ecosystem and adjacent sectors, representing a 10% year-on-year increase. These jobs generated household disposable income of over AED 4.7 billion, reflecting an increase of 13.6% compared to 2024.
In 2025, large-scale events held at DWTC generated AED 4.5 billion in revenue in the MICE sector, with investments from organizers and exhibitors across venue space, stand services, logistics, event infrastructure and related business services.
The impact of this work extended far beyond the events industry itself. DWTC’s mega-event, combined with participant spending across accommodation, travel and transportation, retail, dining and entertainment, created a significant ripple effect across Dubai’s economy. Overall, for every Dh1 spent on DWTC events, the city’s total economic output amounted to Dh5.5.
An increase in large-scale events and sustained international participation continued to drive economic activity across adjacent sectors in 2025. Direct spending across these sectors amounted to AED 13.48 billion, highlighting the wide-ranging economic impact generated by business events in Dubai. Sectors that have benefited include:
• Accommodation cost: 3.79 billion dirhams
• Travel and transportation: AED 2.98 billion
• Retail: AED 2.55 billion
• Restaurants and eateries: AED 2.1 billion.
• Business Entertainment: AED 1.81 billion
• Government services: AED 252 million.
These results further strengthen DWTC’s role in stimulating economic activity across tourism, hospitality, aviation, retail and entertainment, while contributing to Dubai’s broader economic diversification agenda.
Key industrial sectors generate strong economic impact
The diversity of sectors represented across DWTC’s event portfolio remains closely aligned with the economic priorities and future growth sectors of Dubai and the wider region.
In 2025, the top three sectors – Healthcare & Medical, Food & Beverages, ICT, and Electronics & Emerging Technologies – together accounted for 55% of total gross value added, creating more than Dh8.1 billion in value to Dubai’s economy. These areas also attracted 48% of all attendees and 59% of international participants to the major events held during the year, highlighting Dubai’s importance as a global platform for innovation, industry advancement and knowledge exchange.
Healthcare and Medical had 20 events and over 434,000 participants, generating AED 3.73 billion in GVA. Food and beverages followed, attracting more than 280,000 participants across seven events and contributing AED 2.38 billion. Meanwhile, ICT, electronics and emerging technologies welcomed more than 337,000 participants across seven events and generated an economic value of AED 1.99 billion.
Helal Saeed Al-Mari concluded: “The strength of Dubai’s business events sector lies not only in its scale, but also in its ability to bring together industries, technologies and ideas that will drive the future global economy, while contributing to long-term economic goals.”
