Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is seeing confidence return among event organisers as it targets 600 events a year by 2033 and expands Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), following recent regional disruption.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at Dubai World Trade Centre, said the process starts with organisers deciding whether a show should proceed, before that decision filters through to exhibitors and visitors.
“I think it would start from the confidence of the organisers believing that this show should continue and go ahead,” Julfar told Lana in an interview following a DWTC media briefing in Dubai.
He said that confidence then moves “down to the exhibitors” and from exhibitors to “the visitors who are travellers who want to do business”.
“Every event that we are hosting today is creating a successful story for the next event that’s coming,” he said. The outlook has changed within a month as events continued despite regional disruption.
“If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have said no. It’s going to be slow,” Julfar said. “But today, every show we host, it’s helping the next show to become stronger and bigger.”
DWTC plans to increase the number of events it stages from 300 in 2024 to 600 by 2033, while targeting an AED54 billion contribution to Dubai’s economy each year under plans linked to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Al Maktoum Airport forms part of DEC masterplan
Amer Alfarsi, Vice President, Real Estate Development at DWTC, said Dubai Exhibition Centre’s location within Dubai South connects it with Expo City Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airport.
“We are within Dubai South development, and Dubai South means Expo City and Al Maktoum Airport,” Alfarsi said. “We create an ecosystem that support each other.”
He said proximity to the airport would support the movement of companies, investors and visitors using DEC. “Being closer to Al Maktoum Airport is very important for us,” he said.
“We welcome thousands of international companies, investors, people, visitors – and definitely being next to the airport – it will support that ecosystem and will help it.”
The DEC masterplan is connected to Expo City Dubai, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport and the Dubai South community, according to DWTC.
The venue is due to reach 180,000 square metres of exhibition space when the expansion is completed in 2031. DWTC says DEC will then become the largest indoor venue in the Middle East and North Africa and will be 1.5 times the size of the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
DWTC looks across 100 sectors and more than 300 subsectors
When asked about bringing more events to DEC, Julfar said DWTC separates exhibitions from conferences when assessing opportunities.
“When it comes to international events, you have the exhibitions, which are purely trade shows, and then you have the international conferences,” he said.
Julfar said conferences can require between two and 10 years of preparation. “It requires the entire ecosystem to work together: the city, the venue, and the local members,” he said.
For exhibitions, he said DWTC assesses about 100 sectors and more than 300 subsectors. “The way we work is by looking at every sector, every organiser, and every subsector to see how we can make the existing shows bigger or bring in new profiles or new shows to the world,” Julfar said.
More than 100 events planned through year-end
DWTC expects more than 100 exhibitions and events to take place between Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre through the end of the year.
During the briefing, Julfar said DWTC had worked with organisers to move events scheduled for March, April, May and June into the final quarter following disruption.
Capacity at DEC allowed the company to shift shows between venues, he said, creating what he described as “one of the busiest Q4” periods in DWTC’s history and for the events sector.
In addition, Alfarsi said that the availability of two venues had allowed DWTC to respond when events were pushed later in the year. “We are synchronised as departments, and we work together very closely, and we ensure that we don’t lose any opportunity,” he said.
“We are always planning ahead of time to ensure that we capture all the opportunities available,” he said adding that DWTC was able to handle more than 100 exhibitions and conferences because it had two venues available.
“Even if the challenge pushed us toward the last quarter, we can still do it,” Alfarsi said. “And that’s the beauty of how we can use the different venues.”
Phase one of DEC was completed in early 2026, adding 140,000 square metres of indoor event space. The venue has since hosted Gulfood and World Health Expo.
Phase two due by 2028
Phase two will increase DEC’s exhibition space to 160,000 square metres by 2028. The work includes a concourse linking exhibition halls so events requiring different amounts of space can operate at the same time.
DWTC has also started tendering packages linked to hall expansion. All 114 piled foundations for the concourse have been completed and 1,800 tonnes of structural steel have been delivered to a fabrication yard in Dubai.
Steel installation began in August 2026, with completion targeted for December 2026. Roofing, façade and skylight installation is under procurement.
Work has also started on a venue access road, while demolition has begun at the eastern plot boundary with Expo City Dubai. Phase two plans include service yards, road works, public areas linked with Expo City and multi-storey car parks. Daily capacity is planned to rise to 60,000 people.
Phase three to bring DEC to 180,000 square metres
Phase three, due by 2031, will take DEC to 180,000 square metres.
Plans include 8,000 square metres of offices, 7,000 square metres of food and retail space, 9,000 square metres of meeting rooms, exhibitor offices and other spaces, and an 8,000 square metre production kitchen.
The venue is planned to accommodate 65,000 visitors a day and more than 20 events at the same time. During the briefing, Alfarsi said subsequent phases would include between 9,000 and 10,000 parking spaces for exhibition visitors.
Infrastructure plans accompany venue growth
When asked whether Dubai could handle traffic as event capacity increases, Julfar pointed to changes to road infrastructure. “The infrastructure today, year on year or month by month, the infrastructure is being upgraded. Every time I pass a road, there’s a new bridge or new road,” he quipped.
DEC’s transport plans include a 30-bus shuttle network between DWTC and DEC during events and 80 shuttle services within Expo City Dubai.
Park & Ride facilities are planned at E& Metro Station, Centrepoint Metro Station, National Paints Metro Station and Al Kifaf Multistorey Parking.
The Dubai Metro Red Line also provides access through Expo 2020 Station, with service frequency set to increase when visitor volumes require it.
Supply chain planning focuses on logistics and insurance
When asked how DWTC was preparing for future challenges that could arise, Alfarsi said there is a “clear vision” in place. “From our perspective, we have a clear vision,” he said. “We always follow the Dubai model in overcoming those challenges, and we have our long-term vision.”
He said DWTC was working with suppliers and coordinating plans around possible disruption. “We definitely align with our supply chain. We ensure that we have a close coordination,” Alfarsi said.
“We put ahead a plan to overcome any expected pressure on different sectors like logistics, insurance, or supply chain. This is just a short-term [challenge], and we are focused on our long-term [vision]“
During the briefing, Alfarsi said DWTC had contacted partners after conflict in the region and discussed pressure involving logistics, insurance and supply chains.
When supply problems emerged, he said the project changed its procurement strategy and looked to suppliers in Dubai and the region that could meet its requirements.
DWTC says event programme will continue
During the briefing, Julfar was asked about attacks in the region and whether they would affect Dubai’s exhibition season. “I think Dubai will continue. Yes, the situation has changed, but the objective remains the same,” he said.
“Security and safety is our priority, but at the same time, we’re going ahead.”
Julfar also said some shows had seen participation fall around three months earlier but were returning towards levels that had been agreed and contracted.
