The Vice President and the Prime Minister of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum approves AED10 Billion Expansion Plan for DEC, the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. Upon completion, the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) will become the largest venue for purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions in the region. This expansion plan is a part of Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040 and is vital to Expo City Dubai’s vision of becoming a dynamic economic hub, driven forward by global events and exhibitions.
“We have approved the master plan for the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, with an investment of AED10 Billion Expansion Plan for DEC. This iconic venue will not only become the largest indoor exhibition and events destination in the region but also set new global standards for excellence in the industry. We are committed to consolidating Dubai’s status as a global leader in the events and exhibitions sector and the top destination for mega events,” said Vice President and the Prime Minister of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“Our events provide platforms for connecting people, ideas, and opportunities from across the globe. They provide the impetus for economic growth, boost tourism, and contribute significantly to advancing our national projects, strengthening Dubai’s growing role as a global economic hub,” he further added.
The DEC Masterplan was briefed in the presence of His Excellence Mohammad Al Shaibani, the Director General of His Highness The Ruler’s Court of Dubai; His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Pillar; His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA); His Excellency Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; and the senior management of DWTC (Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE).
“Dubai has evolved from a travel and tourism gateway into a global hub of innovation, connectivity, and forward-looking enterprise. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, we have reinforced our status as one of the world’s most influential cities – a place where the world converges to shape the future of business, enterprise and creativity, making Dubai a vibrant city that attracts talent and opportunity from around the globe,” His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Board of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) said.
“The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre has been strategically planned to align with the visionary goals of Expo City Dubai, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, and the recently announced expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the world’s largest once fully operational. The synchronised development of this unique urban hub, along with its thriving communities, showcases Dubai’s forward-thinking approach in establishing a blueprint for a future city that meets the highest global standards,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.
During the entire briefing, His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri highlighted the Dubai World Trade centre’s commitment to tripling the economic contribution of its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) sector to AED 54 billion annually by the year 2033, in sync with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s objectives.
This ambitious plan released by His Highness is all set to significantly increase DWTC’s share of the multi-billion-dollar MICE Industry. The planned expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre will further enhance and strengthen the position of the Emirates as a preferred global hotspot for international exhibitions, conferences, and experimental consumer events. This plan is built on its world-class event-hosting infrastructure and over four decades of sustained economic value generation.
“Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, diversification and sustainable growth remain central to positioning Dubai as a leading global economic hub. By leveraging our strategic location as a crossroads for international trade, we continue to provide a comprehensive ecosystem, enabling platforms, and world-class infrastructure that support global business and commerce. The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre will propel the next phase of the MICE sector’s evolution, building on our regional leadership and advanced event-hosting capabilities to drive sustainable growth and economic progress for the global MICE industry. Our goal is to solidify Dubai’s standing as one of the top three global destinations for tourism and business, reinforcing the city’s role as a model of innovation and opportunity on the global stage,” His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri said.
The Three key phrases are:
The Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) master plan reflects the venue’s expansion in 3 key phrases to meet the increasing demand for large-scale venues. Those key phases are:
- In Phase 1, set for completion by 2026, the DEC will feature 140,000 Sq.m of exhibition space, nearly two and a half times its current capacity of 58K Sq.m.
- The Phase 2 is expected to get completed by 2028 and is focused towards expanding the total exhibition space to nearly 160,000 square meters, to support road network, infrastructure, and multi-storey parking.
- The third phase i.e. the final phase is expected to get completed by 2031. This phase will increase the total exhibition space to 180,000 square meters, and will feature 26 halls on a single continuous level that spans over a whopping 1.2 kilometers. This space will accommodate one mega event or up to 20 smaller events. 300+ key hotels, retail outlets, commercial offices, and an industrial kitchen for fully-oriented operations will be included in the final phase.
- After the completion of all the key phrases, the Dubai Exhibition Centre will become 1.5 times larger than the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
Source: mediaoffice
