A delegation of 30 stakeholders from across the sector has joined DBE in showcasing Dubai’s credentials as a premier global hub for business events at IMEX
Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, announced that it spearheading Dubai’s participation at IMEX Frankfurt that is currently underway in the German city.
In a statement, DBE says that at IMEX a delegation of 30 stakeholders from across the sector has joined DBE in showcasing Dubai’s credentials as a premier global hub for business events. The delegation includes leading hotels, venues, DMCs, airlines and other service providers including Emirates, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai World Trade Centre.
Ahmed Al Khaja
“As we engage with the global industry at IMEX Frankfurt, we are reinforcing Dubai’s position as a strategic destination for impactful business events. Our consistent top rankings from ICCA and Cvent, and growing pipeline of major international events, are the result of a focused and collaborative approach with our stakeholders, as we work collectively to reinforce the emirate’s position as a premier global hub for the MICE industry. Business events are integral to our tourism strategy and are increasingly driving progress across key sectors. They are playing a vital role in advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 – to position Dubai as one of the world’s most innovative, inclusive and future-ready cities, as guided and championed by the visionary leadership of the UAE,” says Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE).
The statement adds that Dubai’s participation aligns with this year’s theme emphasising the global events community’s responsibility to address major global and community challenges while driving positive change through events, partnerships and initiatives.
According to the statement, Dubai continues to see strong growth in tourism aligned with its MICE strategy. In 2024, the city welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors, a 9 pc year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into 2025, with 5.31 million international visitors arriving between January and March, marking a 3 pc increase compared to Q1 2024.
Dubai has also secured 437 successful bids in 2024 to host international conferences, congresses and incentive programmes, a 20 pc year-on-year increase. These events are set to attract over 210,000 delegates to Dubai in the coming years, significantly contributing to the city’s business and tourism ecosystem. Among the high-profile events won are Amway ESAN 2025, the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums 2025, the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research 2026, the World Congress on Medical Informatics 2027, ISAPS Olympiad World Congress 2027, Forever Living Products Global Rally 2026, the Scientific Assembly and Associated Events of the Committee on Space Research 2028 and The International Conference on Computer Vision 2029.
"
