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 Centre and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, will bring together association executives from around the world, government representatives, industry leaders, as well as university faculties and students. Established in 2014, the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) is a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) that support and license regional and international associations in setting up an office or chapter in the emirate. The inaugural edition of its Dubai Association Conference took place in December 2017, while DAC last year hosted an Association Leaders Getaway in the city. Hassan Al Hashemi (pictured), Vice-President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber, said: “Dubai has strengthened its reputation as a regional association hub in recent years and global associations are fast realising the attractive advantages and expansion opportunities that the emirate can offer them.” Al Hashemi noted that DAC has witnessed exponential growth since its establishment. The December conference will explore four sub-themes: Community Well-Being, Knowledge and Research, Business and Opportunity, and Creativity and Innovation. The key objective of this themed approach is to anchor associations more closely to the respective business sectors and knowledge clusters in which they have the means to generate a positive and sustainable change. There are currently more than 60 associations licensed under Dubai Association Centre.