Gigantic, inevitably gigantic. Dubai is expanding its exhibition centre in line with the destination's lofty ambitions. The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), which has just entered its first phase, aims to double the number of large-scale events each year. This figure is set to rise from around 300 today to more than 600 by 2033. " The year when Dubai will be the world's most important business centre" according to the wishes of Sheikh Mohammed ben Rachid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
Lemirat has set its D33 economic agenda around the year in which it celebrates its 200th anniversary, doing everything in its power to ensure that its economy doubles in size by then. With this in mind, the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre is part of an even bigger project, the transformation of Expo City - the site of COP28 and the 2020 World Expo - into a global, sustainable business and events hub. A place to live and work, made up of five interconnected districts, combining residences, offices, green spaces, shops and restaurants.
Eventually, this district to the south of the city should be home to around 35,000 residents and 40,000 professionals. This free zone is already home to Engie headquarters for the Africa-Middle East-Asia region and Siemens EnergyIt will also be home to the world's leading logistics company DP World and the Emirates airline. Located close to Jebel Ali port, Expo City will also benefit from the planned transformation of Al Maktoum international airport into the world's largest hub, with a terminal five times larger than Dubai International's current terminals.
At the heart of Expo City's new master plan, the Dubai Exhibition Centre aims to play a key role in the city's development. a leading role as the main gateway to Dubai. Nearly 2.5 billion euros - 10 billion dirhams - will be spent on its expansion. The first phase, which has just been launched, should be completed in the first quarter of 2026. This will have no impact on events in Dubai, as construction work will continue in parallel at the existing facility.
Tripling the contribution of MICE in Dubai
The first phase will introduce 64,000 square metres of permanent exhibition space, plus around 30,000 square metres of temporary exhibition space, adding to the site's current 46,000 square metres. This expansion will bring the total capacity for hosting indoor events to 140,000 m² by 2026This will enable 50,000 visitors a day to be accommodated. To give a clearer idea of this vast project, the exhibition centre will be covered by 78,000 m² of roofing, the equivalent of 62 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The enlarged facility, recognised by the LEED certificationThis will optimise operational efficiency while minimising the site's impact on the environment. " The site is designed to enhance the exhibitor and visitor experience, while integrating sustainability into every aspect of its design and operations." said Amer Al Farsi, Acting Vice President of Real Estate Development at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The next two phases, scheduled for 2028 and 2031, should enable the DEC to welcome 65,000 visitors in a 180,000 sq. m. space, for single events or smaller ones, with the venue divided into 20 halls. This should make the Dubai Exhibition Centre one of the world's leading exhibition centres - by way of comparison, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles devotes 216,000 m² to exhibitions - with the following prospects for the future tripling the contribution of the MICE sector to the city's economy by 2033. " The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre marks an era of transformation for Dubai's MICE sector, consolidating our city's position as a global hub for mega-events." concludes Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre.
