Middle East
Dubai confirms six new partnerships
Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, has signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) so far in 2019, ensuring collaborative partnerships with a wide range of institutions, organisations and government entities, and setting a roadmap to attract more business events to the city. These MoUs will further strengthen DBE’s Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme, which ...
ICCA appoints new Director for Middle East region
Anju Gomes has been appointed ICCA’s new Director Middle East to take the helm of the global meetings industry trade association’s fastest-growing region. Gomes is an accomplished Events Strategist and Director of Business Development with over two decades of experience in the international events sector in the Middle East. Having been based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates since 1996, Gomes has spe...
ICCA board visits Tel Aviv following $100m Eurovision renovation
The board of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) recently took a trip to Tel Aviv in Israel, to learn more about the city and meet with key industry figures.
American Express GBT to form Middle East joint venture
Global travel management company American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Kanoo Travel
Dubai World Trade Centre events drive record AED13.1bn in economic value
Events at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) generated total economic value of AED23bn (US$6.26bn) last year, with AED13.1bn retained within Dubai’s GDP. The new figures come from the company’s latest Economic Impact Assessment report for 2018, which also says that for every dirham spent by attendees at DWTC MICE sector services, over 4.4 times as much is spent on ancillary sectors in the wider Dubai...
US Independence Day first for ICC Jerusalem
The ICC Jerusalem stepped up into a new role earlier this month when the US Embassy in Israel marked US Independence Day on 4 July with a festive event.
New CEO to lead Ras Al Khaimah Tourism to next phase in UAE
Hospitality veteran Raki Phillips is to lead the next phase of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development, as CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company gets VAT waiver
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) as announced that it has obtained FTA License for waiver from Value Added Tax (VAT) for all international companies and organisations participating in or holding shows and conferences at its venues across the UAE with effect from 1 June, 2019. The VAT waiver covers exhibitions and conferences held over a period not exceeding seven days. The waiver als...
Dubai Association Conference to return in December
The second edition of the Dubai Association Conference, being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, will take place 9-10 December under the theme of ‘Driving change: The societal impact of associations’. Over the course of two days the conference, organised by Dubai Association Centr...
Automechanika ready to service booming $61bn MEA auto aftermarket
The Middle East and Africa’s auto aftermarket has been valued at US$61bn, with projected rising car sales and more manufacturing bases. The region is on target for 6% annual growth over the next six years, according to a newly published report. The new figures bode well for the largest trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket in the Middle East and Africa, Automechanika Dubai, with organise...
Inside the Dubai Exhibition Centre, host venue of Expo 2020
The team behind the in-construction Dubai Exhibition Centre has released a ‘fly-through’ video of the venue, ahead of its opening on 20 October 2020.
Abu Dhabi event to address asthma issues affecting 1.3m UAE residents
Organisers of global pharmaceutical event CPhI Middle East and Africa say they will deliver content to address the increasing prevalence of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) in the region when the event returns to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), 16-18 September. CRDs including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, respiratory allergies and occupational lung dise...