Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (Adnec) plans to bid for 17 international conferences this year as it looks to step up the events industry’s contribution to the economy.
This year, Adnec and Al Ain Convention Centre will host 339 exhibitions, conferences and other events – up from 327 last year, an increase of 3.6 per cent.
“We will focus on attracting more conferences and continue the growth of exhibitions to drive further the economic impact,” said Humaid Al Dhaheri, Adnec’s acting group chief executive.
“Business tourists spend seven times more than leisure travellers. Around 60 per cent of the region’s events business is based in the UAE, an indicator of the vital role we play in the region.”
Last year Adnec and Al Ain Convention Centre together attracted 1.6 million visitors, who in total contributed Dh2.56 billion to the economy through spending on items such as retail and hotel stays. That was up from 1.56 million visitors who contributed Dh2.3bn in 2013.
Apart from hosting events, Adnec organises the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex), which starts on February 22.
The other annual events at Adnec include the World Future Energy Summit, which was held last month, the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition in September and its flagship event – the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference – in November. In 2019, Adnec will host the World Energy Congress, the premier global forum for leaders and thinkers to debate solutions to energy issues, and the World Road Congress.
Meanwhile, Mubarak Al Shamsi, the director of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, said that he was looking at India, Asia and Europe as its most important markets. “We are getting a lot of conferences and events from the health sector,” he said yesterday on the sidelines of the meetings, events and incentives industry fair, IBTM Arabia.
The bureau was set up in 2013 to attract conventions, meetings, congresses and events to the capital.
It has 10 overseas offices, including in the US, the UK, Russia, China and Europe. This year it expects to expand into Africa. Mr Al Shamsi, however, did not provide details.
Competitive room rates in Abu Dhabi compared to Dubai are also helping the emirate attract more business events.
In December, the average room rate in Abu Dhabi was US$170.37, compared to $375.11 in Dubai, according to Hotstats compiled by TRI Consulting. The occupancy rate in the capital was also higher at 83.1 per cent versus 82.2 per cent in Dubai.
There are about 2,000 rooms across the Adnec premises from five hotels, ranging from the budget Premier Inn to the luxury Hyatt Capital Gate.
“When we travel overseas, we find that the venue is far away from the city, we are trying to build a micro city near our venue,” Mr Al Dhaheri said.
Adnec is the master developer of Capital Centre that includes 23 commercial and residential towers. While the development slowed down during the global economic crisis, some of the towers have since opened. It now houses three hotels and two government ministries.
Adnec also owns ExCeL London, which it acquired in 2008 for Dh2.3bn.
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
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Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
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Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
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Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
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SPECS
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
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The five pillars of Islam
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John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.