Dubai Exhibition Centre is on schedule to open its doors on January 26 − providing a new home for the mega events that the emirate is seeking to attract.
Gulfood Global and WHX, previously Arab Health, will be the first large-scale exhibitions to move from Dubai’s World Trade Centre to the Dh10 billion ($2.72 billion) venue in January and February next year.
Work will continue until 2031 to complete the region’s largest indoor exhibition and events venue located in Expo City.
The National took an inside look at the final stages of work as the 140,000 square metres of space is being readied to welcome 50,000 visitors a day across a single level next year.
“This is only phase one for the Dubai Exhibition Centre. Ultimately by phase three we will host anything between 65,000 to 80,000 people depending on the layout of the show,” Mahir Julfar, executive vice president Dubai World Trade Centre, told The National on Wednesday during a tour of the site.
“We have run out of space at Dubai World Trade Centre, so this would allow us to move some of the mega shows into Dubai Exhibition Centre. We will have four moving in 2026, in 2027 we have six to seven shows, in 2028 we will have nine to 10 shows – this is just to start with.”
Final touches
More than 4,000 workers are busy across the DEC’s distinctive orange facade, with some working on scaffolding spread through exterior and interior sections. It was an active construction site last year with building completed in record time. Final touches are now being added to electrical and mechanical systems.
Among the highlights is a 1.2km space from north to south without any columns that will be open from January. Once the final phase is completed in 2031, the 180,000 sqm area can be split up into 26 halls to host more than 20 events at the same time or used for a massive single event.
Gitex and Automechanika will shift to DEC in the fourth quarter of 2026, with plans to attract larger events. The existing centre was built in time for Expo 2020 and also hosted Cop28 marking the start of the city vying for global events.
“Expo 2020 was like ultra-mega shows such the Olympics, where the entire city is hosting that event,” said Mr Julfar.
“Exhibitions are sectorised like with technology, food and by moving these shows to Dubai Exhibition Centre, we allow them to grow to maximum capacity. This will also allow us to bid for international congresses for future years. For international conferences, the lead time is anything between two to 10 years to bid and win an event.”
Key connections
The baton will be handed over to the DEC next year but some events will continue at the World Trade Centre with 30 express buses connecting both venues for Gulfood and WHX. About 80 shuttle buses will operate within Expo City Dubai to take visitors from parking zones with about 10,000 parking slots. During events, the Metro Red Line will increase the frequency of services to the Expo 2020 Station outside the DEC entrance.
Amer Al Farsi, vice president of real estate development at the Dubai World Trade Centre, said the challenge was to build a unique space to meet demand from exhibitors for a bigger, more flexible exhibition area with advanced tech facilities and infrastructure connectivity.
“It is definitely exhausting, but we are proud to be part of this legacy, to deliver this global hub because what we are providing here will serve the exhibitions and conferences,” he said.
“What is the Dubai Exhibition Centre? It is a national economic lever, it is a platform that connects industry, trade, innovation and ensures growth of different sectors. It's an honour to be part of a team that's ensuring the completion of this facility in time.”
Located near Al Maktoum International Airport, there will be three hotels within walking distance of the DEC, including the Rove Hotel, and about 170 serviced apartments at the Expo Village site. More than 45 hotels are within a 20-minute drive.
The DEC is part of the emirate’s vision of transforming into an economic hub, with hosting global exhibitions and events making a major contribution.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in September last year approved a Dh10 billion expansion plan to develop the DEC as “the top destination for mega events”. In line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Dubai World Trade Centre committed to tripling the economic contribution of its meetings, conferences and events sector to Dh54 billion annually by 2033.
