DBE, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said its delegation showcased the emirate’s business events capabilities at the trade show, held from 18 to 20 November.
The bureau was joined by 32 partners across the sector, including hotels, venues, destination management companies, planners and major organisations such as Emirates, Expo City Dubai, Coca Cola Arena and Dubai World Trade Centre.
MICE in Dubai
The appearance follows a year of industry accolades. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Dubai first globally for highest attendance per association meeting and first in the Middle East and Africa for the number of association meetings hosted.
Cvent also named the emirate the top meetings destination in the region.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “IBTM World 2025 provided an excellent platform to engage with international partners and reaffirm Dubai’s growing influence on the global stage. The strong interest we saw at the show, supported by our leading international rankings and the results achieved this year, underlines the world’s confidence in Dubai as a destination that consistently delivers meaningful and high-impact business events.”
DBE said Dubai’s performance in the first half of 2025 demonstrated continued momentum. The city secured 249 successful bids for events scheduled through 2029, a 29 per cent rise year on year. These events are forecast to attract more than 127,000 delegates, up 35 per cent annually, supported by a higher conversion rate and the growth of the Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme, which now has more than 370 ambassadors.
Tourism demand
Tourism indicators also reflected strong demand. Dubai International Airport handled 70.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025, an increase of 2.1 per cent, maintaining its position as the world’s busiest international airport for the 11th consecutive year in 2024.
The emirate welcomed 13.95 million international overnight visitors during the same period, five per cent more than a year earlier.
Authorities said Dubai is preparing for further growth through continued infrastructure projects, including expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai and wider city development plans and airport upgrades.
These initiatives aim to strengthen the city’s ability to host major international gatherings and support the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
