Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the region's leading business enabler and global events powerhouse, announced its 2025 results. DWTC welcomed 2.97 million attendees in 2025 across its Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) venues, a 12% year-on-year increase.
Strong Participation
The strongest contribution came from Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), where DWTC hosted 134 events and drew 2.19 million participants. In addition, DWTC organised 14 flagship exhibitions and events in 2025, attracting close to 630,000 participants, a 7% year-on-year increase. These events brought together more than 20,000 exhibiting companies, with 75% coming from outside the UAE.
Another important contributor was DXB LIVE, DWTC’s event management and experiential agency. DXB LIVE delivered a strong performance in 2025, providing end-to-end solutions for over 442 major exhibitions, conferences, festivals, and international events. The agency also expanded beyond the UAE, supporting major projects in 13 cities around the world.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said:
“2025 was a record year for DWTC, reflecting the resilience and maturity of Dubai’s business events ecosystem and its continued contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Strong participation and sustained international engagement across a broad range of industry sectors demonstrate the enduring economic value that business events generate for the emirate."
Top-Performing Sectors
Healthcare and medical events ranked first, with 23 events drawing 436,000 participants. ICT, electronics, and emerging technology came second with 341,000 participants across 11 events, up 21% year on year. Food and beverage followed with 280,000 participants from seven events. Consumer goods and retail attracted 117,000 participants, while security, defence, and safety brought in 105,000.
DWTC also widened its calendar with seven new exhibitions in 2025, adding 30,000 participants and 750 exhibiting companies. New events included the Middle East Event Show, The Mining Show, Vision Plus Expo, and K-Expo, while Dubai Exhibition Centre hosted JPEX, Middle East Hunting Expo, and My Plant and Garden Middle East.
Conference activity also grew steadily. DWTC hosted 25 conferences in 2025, attracting 62,000 participants, including 11 new conferences that contributed 12,000 attendees. In addition, 14 international association meetings welcomed 29,000 participants. Notable events include the EROC Global Forum, Emirates Diabetes And Endocrine Congress, WCA World, and the 27th ICOM General Conference.
A major milestone during the year was the completion of Phase 1 of the Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion at Expo City. This added 140,000 square metres of event space, strengthening Dubai’s ability to host major international gatherings. In 2025, DEC hosted 36 events and attracted 319,000 participants.
Beyond events, DWTC’s wider business ecosystem also showed strong momentum. Its commercial properties, including One Central, Sheikh Rashid Tower, and Convention Tower, reached 97% occupancy, while Expo Village recorded 96% occupancy. Meanwhile, the DWTC Free Zone licensed 850 new companies and expanded its support network through partnerships with 11 licensed business centres.
Overall, the 2025 results underline DWTC’s growing international reach and its expanding role in supporting Dubai’s long-term economic ambitions.