Why Dubai for your next meeting or event?

A destination like no other, this fascinating city on the Arabian Peninsula entices groups with its outsize attractions, cutting-edge technology and all things luxurious and breathtaking. Yet even while Dubai sprints into the future, it also preserves its past and gives groups the opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich history and culture.

Only in Dubai

Proud to have hosted COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2023, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) is a state-of-the-art venue situated within Expo City Dubai. This major new district was built with a focus on sustainability and is studded with educational, cultural, retail and entertainment offerings. Pioneering initiatives include a cloud-technology platform that monitors energy consumption and the efficiency of power, light, water and climate controls. The Garden in the Sky is a fun observation tower that sits alongside leisure facilities, dining options, event venues and cycling tracks, jogging paths, parks and gardens.

Expo City Dubai is the first in the MENA region to be awarded full GSTC Certified Sustainable Destination status. Recognised under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and Green Destinations Standard, it is also the site of the launch of the UAE’s first Green Innovation District.

In July 2026, 237 hotels received the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, a 55 per cent increase on the previous cycle. Recipients were independently assessed against DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements, covering areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing and community initiatives.

Across the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre, DWTC welcomed 2.97 million attendees across 401 events in 2025. DWTC's 134 MICE events attracted 2.19 million participants, including approximately 951,000 international participants.

An AED10 billion expansion programme is transforming DEC into the region’s largest purpose-built indoor events venue. Phase one is complete, providing 140,000 sqm of event space and capacity for up to 50,000 visitors per day. Phase two targets 160,000 sqm by the end of 2028, with the full masterplan targeting 180,000 sqm by 2031. DEC hosted 36 events and attracted 319,000 participants in 2025.

Phase 2 is expected to be completed by 2028 and will expand the total exhibition space to nearly 160,000 sqm while the final phase, expected to be completed by 2031, will increase the total indoor exhibition space to 180,000 sqm. It will then offer 26 halls on a single contiguous level that spans 1.2 kms, accommodating one mega event or up to 20 simultaneous smaller events. The final phase will include a 300+ key hotel, retail outlets, commercial offices and an industrial kitchen.

This expansion will enable Dubai to double the number of large-scale events hosted annually.

Business events support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and position the city among the world’s top three urban economies. Dubai’s GDP reached AED937 billion in 2025, up 5.4 per cent year-on-year; Q1 2026 GDP reached AED232 billion, up 2.4 per cent year-on-year.

Dubai ranked seventh globally in the March 2026 Global Financial Centres Index. At the end of H1 2026, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) had 10,018 active registered companies, including 1,933 AI, FinTech and innovation companies. Its AI-native financial centre programme is projected to generate AED12.9 billion in economic benefits and 25,000 jobs.

Knowledge and future industries

• Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre continues as an incubator for the UAE National Space Programme.
• Priority sectors include artificial intelligence and the digital economy, financial services and FinTech, and advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
• Dubai continues to host large-scale Web3, blockchain and FinTech conferences across its major venues.
• The Dubai Blockchain Centre's REAL series attracted more than 1,000 participants representing 683 companies across four events held between April and July 2026, supporting the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem.
• The newly established Dubai Longevity Authority is intended to strengthen Dubai's position as a global hub for regulated longevity, wellness, advanced healthcare and medical innovation.

The Dubai Association Centre (DAC), established in 2014, helps international associations set up regional representative offices in the emirate. It supports more than 80 international associations.

The Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme comprises more than 370 ambassadors across academia, healthcare and business. The Al Safeer Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony this year recognised 47 ambassadors across the Dubai Association Centre, Homegrown Events, Regional Events and International Events categories.

Upcoming secured business events

Association congresses in 2027 and beyond

• World Engineers Congress 2027 - 3,000 expected delegates
• SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) 2028 - 8,000 expected delegates
• World Ophthalmology Congress 2028 - 12,000 expected delegates
• Apimondia 2027 - 5,000 expected delegates
• Sibos 2029 - 12,000 expected delegates
• World Congress of Intensive and Critical Care 2028 - 4,500 expected delegates

Further secured events for 2027

• Africa Energy Forum 2027 - 1,000 expected delegates; Dubai World Trade Centre
• TOKEN2049 Dubai 2027 - 10,000 expected delegates; Madinat Jumeirah
• Annual General Meeting of the International Chamber of Shipping and International Shipping Federation 2027 - 500 expected delegates; venue to be confirmed
• IATA World Financial Symposium and World Passenger Symposium 2027 - 600 expected delegates; venue to be confirmed
• WLF and IIPLA Annual Conference 2027 - 18-19 January; 600 expected delegates

Selected Q4 2026 conferences

• Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association Forum 2026 - 2,500 expected delegates; Madinat Jumeirah
• Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension 2026 - 2,000 expected delegates; InterContinental Dubai Festival City
• Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress (AMWC) 2026 - 1,500 expected delegates; Grand Hyatt Dubai
• DCD Connect 2026 - 1,500 expected delegates; Grand Hyatt Dubai
• Dubai World Insurance Congress 2026 - 1,500 expected delegates; Atlantis, The Palm
• Middle East Investor Relations Association Annual Conference 2026 - 1,000 expected delegates; Atlantis The Royal
• EMEA CHRIE Conference 2026, formerly EuroCHRIE - 9-12 November; 300 expected delegates; hosted by Dubai College of Tourism

Q4 2026 exhibition calendar

• WETEX at DWTC (20-22 October); Big 5 Global at DWTC (23-26 November);  the GITEX Global exhibition at DEC, Expo City Dubai (8-11 December 2026)
• More than 100 exhibitions, conferences and business events were scheduled across Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre through year-end 2026, spanning technology, energy, construction, beauty and sustainability, among other sectors.

Rankings and global recognition

• ICCA GlobeWatch 2025 rankings, released in May 2026: #1 globally for the highest attendee number per association conference and #1 in the Middle East for the total number of association conferences hosted.
• Cvent 2026: #1 among the Top 25 Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa; Dubai hotels occupied six of the top seven positions in the region's Meeting Hotels ranking.
• Greenfield FDI 2025: #1 globally for project numbers for the fifth consecutive year, with 1,253 announced projects and a record 7 per cent share of global greenfield FDI projects.
• Cultural and creative industries FDI 2025: #1 globally for greenfield project numbers for the fourth consecutive year, with 754 projects and 19,304 new jobs; #2 globally for sector FDI capital inflows, totalling US$3.756 billion.
• IMD Smart City Index 2026: ranked sixth globally, with an A rating across both the Structures and Technology pillars.
• BCG Intelligent Cities Index 2026: #2 globally overall and #1 in the Adoption domain, covering AI technologies and smart-city solutions. This is a separate ranking from the IMD Smart City Index.
• Brand Finance 2026: ranked fifth globally among the world's leading city brands, up from seventh; Dubai's place brand value was estimated at nearly AED1 trillion.
• Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025: ranked 12th globally and the leading Middle Eastern city.
• Dubai retained its position as the world's cleanest city for the sixth consecutive year.
• Dubai became the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere in April 2025.

Why meeting planners choose Dubai

Travel essentials

Taxes: 10% service charge; 7% municipality fee; 5% VAT

Convention Centres

Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre: this 120,000 sqm venue is the largest dedicated events space in the region and a part of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) complex. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to most of Dubai’s major exhibitions and trade shows, as well as a steady calendar of international conferences and congresses.

Dubai Exhibition Centre, located within Expo City Dubai, provides 140,000 sqm of event space following the completion of its first expansion phase, with capacity for up to 50,000 visitors per day. Expo City Dubai has achieved GSTC Certified Sustainable Destination status and offers additional meeting spaces across the district.

CVB: Dubai Business Events

Visa information: can be found here, including a list of countries whose citizens get 30-day and 90-day visas on arrival

Local currency: UAE dirham (AED); £1 equals about AED 4.6

Power: Standard voltage: 220V; standard frequency: 50 Hz

Time zone: Gulf Standard Time (four hours ahead of UTC, formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time)

Transportation in & around the area

• Dubai International Airport (DXB): about 15 km (10 miles) from the city centre. DXB welcomed a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025 and remained the world’s busiest airport for international passengers for the 12th consecutive year. At the end of H1 2026, almost 50 international airlines linked DXB to 217 destinations across 99 countries. The September 2026 ATM briefing reported Emirates services to more than 138 destinations across 72 countries.
• Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport: about 55 km (34 miles) from the city centre. Work is underway on an AED128 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport. The development is planned to handle 260 million passengers annually at full capacity, with 400 aircraft gates and five parallel runways. The first phase is targeted for 2032, with capacity for 150 million passengers annually.
• The AED20.5 billion Dubai Metro Blue Line will add 30 km of track and 14 stations, with operations planned for 2029. The AED34 billion Gold Line will add a further 42 km and 18 stations, with completion targeted for 2032.

• Fully electric air taxis are planned to launch by the end of 2026, with initial stations at DXB, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.

New & coming soon to Dubai

• His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 with the ambitious goals of doubling the size of Dubai's economy in a decade and consolidating its position among the top three global cities. Initiatives include 100 transformative projects, with economic targets of £7 trillion, doubling foreign trade and adding 400 cities as key trading partners. It aims to accelerate growth by investing in human development, skillsets and advanced technology, as well as consolidating Dubai’s global competitiveness, innovation and knowledge-based economy. The programme is investing in enhancing the advantages gained from Dubai’s strategic location and its advanced infrastructure to raise the city’s status as a preferred destination for major international companies and investments.
• Recently announced is the development of the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) on the waters of the Dubai Creek. Designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, it looks set to become a major cultural and architectural landmark showcasing works from artists around the world.
• Dubai’s hotel room inventory approached 149,000 at the end of August 2026. The city recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights in January-August 2026, with average occupancy of 60 per cent over that period and 66 per cent in August. Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international overnight visitors in January-August, including approximately 869,000 in August, its strongest month since February.
• Aligned with the goals of the D33 Agenda, Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and Quality of Life Strategy 2033, Dubai’s flagship sustainability initiatives achieved significant milestones in 2025. DET’s Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) drive recognised 153 hotels with the DST Stamp in February 2025, representing a 118 per cent increase from the previous year’s 70 hotels. The recognition system awarded 18 hotels gold tier status, 64 silver and 71 bronze based on assessments of energy efficiency, water conservation and waste management practices.
• The spectacular Ciel Dubai Marina is the world’s tallest hotel standing at 377 metres and offers 1,004 rooms across 82 floors.
• The Meydan Hotel has reopened after an extensive renovation, with terraces overlooking Meydan Racecourse and leisure facilities including golf, padel and tennis.
• Six Senses The Palm, Dubai has opened reservations for stays. The resort is planned with 61 suites, 172 privately owned branded residences and 60,000 sq ft of spa and wellness facilities.
• The wider hotel pipeline includes Kimpton Dubai Business Bay Canal, Baccarat Hotel and Residences in Downtown Dubai, Aman Dubai and Rosewood Dubai.
• JW Marriott Marquis is undergoing a major renovation programme covering all 1,608 rooms and suites, executive lounges and several dining venues.
• Therme Dubai is an AED2 billion wellbeing destination scheduled for completion in 2028 and planned as the world's tallest wellness resort.
• The One&Only One Za’abeel is the first urban resort from Kerzner International and offers ultra-luxury hospitality. Its dual skyscrapers are dramatically intersected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link – a futuristic boulevard floating 100 metres above the street boasting wonderful skyline views and the UAE’s longest suspended infinity pool. The hotel’s spacious rooms are among the largest in Dubai and the collection of corner suites feature additional themed amenities. The Urban Suite, for instance, includes a state-of-the-art meeting space. The hotel also offers two ballrooms and six meeting rooms.
• In the same building Kerzner International has also opened its first SIRO hotel. SIRO One Za’abeel is focused on fitness and recovery in an entirely new concept that combines transformative wellness experiences, an integrated digital strategy and personalised guidance from wellness experts. The aim is to optimise physical and mental wellbeing through a fusion of science and technology across five pillars: nutrition, fitness, sleep, recovery and mindfulness. New in the happening smart district Uptown Dubai, close to Expo City, the
• SO/Uptown Dubai is a soaring city urban resort offering 188 bedrooms, excellent dining and breathtaking views. Located within the 340m high, diamond-inspired Uptown Tower, designed by internationally-renowned architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, it offers high ceilings and innovative design. Its fully-equipped event facilities include an elegant ballroom accommodating up to 1,000 guests.
• The vibrant Creek Harbour area has seen many new hotels open along its six km promenade. The Address Grand Creek Harbour, the first five-star resort on this waterfront, offers views of old Dubai on one side and the extraordinary skyline of new Dubai on the other. With four stylish meeting rooms for 12-30 guests and a glorious Luma Pool Lounge for outdoor events for up to 250, it offers 223 elegant bedrooms. The relaxed and contemporary-style, 99-room Vida Creek Beach overlooks the newly-constructed Crystal Lagoon with a beach and state-of-the-art wave system and the five-star Palace Dubai Creek Harbour with 122 stylish bedrooms opened in 2024.  
• Newly open on the waterfront on Dubai Canal with views of the Burj Khalifa, The Lana is a Dorchester Collection hotel that combines stunning architecture, spectacular use of space and light and impeccable service levels. It offers three event spaces and 225 rooms.
• Drawing on inspiration from exclusive superyachts, Marsa Al Arab is part of the Jumeirah Group. Designed to epitomise superior luxury and quality in another landmark building, it offers 387 rooms and 10 restaurants. Part of the wider complex that also includes Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah and Wild Wadi Waterpark, it opened in March 2025.
• Opened early 2023, the NH Collection Dubai The Palm is an exciting four-star property that offers excellent value in this high-demand location on exclusive Palm West Beach. A short journey from Dubai’s top attractions, it offers 227 rooms, direct beach access, a rooftop pool and lively sports bar.
• The Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah opened in September 2022 with 608 guest rooms and suites offering stunning views of the Dubai skyline and Dubai Marina. Dining options include Trader Vic’s, McGettigan’s and Barfly by Buddha Bar, while guests also enjoy the tranquil signature Eforea Spa and a fully equipped gym. On-site event venues include 12 meeting rooms, a divisible ballroom and a terrace with panoramic ocean views that can host up to 800 people.
• The new Marriott The Palm Dubai, the first Marriott in the region, offers 806 spacious rooms with sweeping views of Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. The resort features the Saray Spa plus on-site F&B outlets like the rustic Italian-style trattoria Cucina, the Korean steakhouse Smoki Moto and the rooftop restaurant About Eleven. More than 1,100 sqm of meeting space span 10 rooms, the largest of which can hold up to 750 people.
• Terra Solis by Tomorrowland, situated in the heart of the Dubai desert, launched in 2022 offering luxury glamping experiences, rustic dining and an expansive pool designed for large-scale events and parties. This sprawling desert-chic oasis lets guests choose between three accommodation options named after stars, meteor showers and constellations.
• With a design inspired by traditional dhow boats, the recently launched W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is a new architectural icon with 318 elegant rooms and suites overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Guests can linger in the lobby with expansive views of the Marina or spend afternoons soaking in the infinity pool and lavish BAR-B spa. A host of restaurants includes Ginger Moon, an urban beach-club experience. The hotel has four event spaces, the largest of which can host 150 guests.
• A new addition to one of the city’s well-established properties, the Grand Hyatt Dubai Conference & Exhibition Centre is a state-of-the-art events hall with close to 5,000 sqm of multipurpose facilities, including nearly 3,000 sqm of open function space, a huge royal arrival hall and can accommodate events of up to 4,000 people.

More meeting & event venues

• The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) welcomed 2.97 million attendees across 401 events at its Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre venues in 2025. Its 134 MICE events attracted 2.19 million participants, including approximately 951,000 international participants. Separately, DWTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Assessment covered 108 large-scale events, which attracted more than 2.18 million attendees and generated AED25.03 billion in total economic output and AED14.66 billion in Gross Value Added for Dubai’s economy.
• The 43-storey Atlantis The Royal Dubai offers 795 rooms, suites and signature penthouses in total, including 102 suites and penthouses. The resort features a rooftop infinity pool, the AWAKEN wellness spa and restaurants from chefs including Gastón Acurio, José Andrés and Ariana Bundy. Its event spaces include the Diamond Ballroom, accommodating up to 1,200 guests, and the Emerald Lawn, accommodating up to 500, depending on the event setup.
• The beachfront property closest to Dubai's financial and business districts, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, has 256 rooms and suites and a 700 sqm glass-walled ballroom complete with terrace overlooking the beach. On-site are four light-filled, divisible meeting rooms equipped with high-performance AV equipment and more.
• The Voco Dubai is located on Shaikh Zayed Road, home to most of Dubai’s signature skyscrapers. The property has 471 guest rooms and amenities include a business centre, an outdoor swimming pool, gym spa, three restaurants and nearly 1,000 sqm of meeting space.
• With 350 luxurious rooms and suites (including the largest suite in Dubai), the W Dubai – The Palm offers uninterrupted views of the Dubai skyline. The hotel, the first W brand property in the destination, includes 10 event rooms, the largest of which can hold up to 500 people, plus six breakout rooms. Amenities include six dining outlets, a private beach and water sports.

• NH Collection Dubai The Palm

  Inspired by the palaces of 18th-century Europe, the 391-room Raffles The Palm Dubai offers carefully curated experiences on a private beach on the Arabian Gulf. The hotel features eight restaurants and bars, a 2,100-sqm event space, spa, wellness centre and yoga studio plus the largest private cinema on Palm Jumeirah.
• The 432-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront, set in the Business Bay District on the Dubai Water Canal, provides a number of event venues, including a ballroom, 11 versatile meeting rooms and an expansive outdoor terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa. F&B choices range from the Nordic inspired Larder restaurant and Scottish bar Makar to the down-home (Dubai-style) Fire Lake Grill House and Cocktail Bar.
• At 356 metres high, the Gevora Hotel is the world's tallest hotel and located in the city's World Trade Centre. The tower offers 529 high-end accommodations, from de luxe rooms to two-bedroom suites, all decked out in gold-covered art deco splendour. Amenities include a fitness room, pool and Jacuzzi, as well as five restaurants. The Business Centre is on the 12th floor and includes a 15-person boardroom and range of services.
• The 504-room Lapita Hotel brings a Polynesian theme to its architecture, landscaping and culinary offerings. On-site is a ballroom that can hold up to 600 guests, along with seven meeting rooms and an outdoor gathering space. As the only hotel within Dubai Parks and Resorts, the property connects directly to theme parks such as Legoland and Motiongat, including their numerous event spaces.
• The Stella Di Mare Dubai Marina Hotel has 369 de luxe rooms, all done up in a gorgeous art deco design, spread over 31 floors set in the waterfront Dubai Marina district. Features include a multipurpose ballroom that can accommodate up to 250 attendees, an expansive rooftop terrace and a number of culinary offerings, including the Yemaya seafood restaurant, Italian cuisine at Leonardo and an international buffet at La Fontana, plus views from the Skyland rooftop bar.
• Set inside the mixed-use Opus complex in a dramatically sleek and undulating glass structure designed by starchitect Zaha Hadid, the ME Dubai, part of Spanish hospitality brand ME by Meliá, has 74 guest rooms plus 19 suites and features 121 sqm of event space as well as fine-dining outlets, retail space, a bar, swimming pool and spa. The work of local artists is showcased in the lobby and within a mini gallery, with original pieces available for purchase.

A full listing of meeting and event venues in Dubai can be found here.

Extending your trip

• Said to be the world's largest and most-visited retail and entertainment destination, the Dubai Mall is home to more than 1,300 stores and 200 food-and-beverage outlets. This bustling city-within-a-city features major luxury brands, an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink and an amusement park, as well as the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with thousands of aquatic animals. The mall's VR Park, a first-of-its-kind attraction in the Middle East, welcomes visitors into a virtual and augmented-reality wonderland. Just open on the first floor is a large Chinatown, bursting with the colour and flavours of the Far East. It offers a huge food hall, the latest gadgets from tech giant Xiaomi and traditional Chinese treatments at the Yinyang Connection Spa. Visitors can even explore the world of NFT art at a new gallery. It's also home to the Dubai outposts of award-winning hotpot restaurant Haidilao and Singapore's famed Hawker Chan food stall.
• Cultural food tours in Old Dubai have been named as one of the top global experiences for 2026 in Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel guide, spotlighting Dubai’s diverse and unique culinary scene. The fourth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai featured 119 restaurants including FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio, the city’s first three-starred restaurants. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide also included three two-starred restaurants, 14 one-starred, 22 Bib Gourmands and three MICHELIN Green Stars.
• The inaugural World Sports Summit, organised by Dubai Sports Council, welcomed more than 1,500 global sports leaders to the city. Aligned with the objectives of the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, the summit reinforced Dubai’s position as a global hub for sports tourism and events. This year, the prestigious Dubai World Cup will mark a historic milestone with its 30 ^th running since the inaugural race in 1996.
• To the delight of fans of the beautiful game, Real Madrid World is now open at Dubai Parks™ and Resorts, the largest theme park destination in the Middle East. Home to more than 40 original Real Madrid-themed experiences and attractions from visiting the locker rooms to marvelling at the winning trophies, the world’s tallest amusement ride and the region’s first wooden rollercoaster, there are shows, training camps and games of footballing skills.
• For the ultimate thrill, Skydive Dubai offers ample reason to take the plunge, literally, thanks to expert guides who prepare visitors and literally join with them to free-fall from almost 4,000 m up and over the beautiful Palm Jumeirah and Arabian Gulf. The company also can arrange piloted gyrocopter rides going as high as 450 m.
• A unique view of the city can be had by ziplining through it via the Dubai XLine. Guests hang tight as they glide for nearly a mile across the city and soak up views of the gleaming yachts and shiny high-rises before arriving on the terrace of Dubai Marina Mall.
• Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest swimming pool for diving, is a thrilling underwater world for freediving and scuba diving. The building is shaped like an oyster, representing Dubai’s pearl diving heritage, and features a ‘sunken city’ with abandoned streetscapes like a modern Atlantis. It also offers meeting space for up to 100.
• Since opening its doors, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library has quickly become a cultural hotspot as the largest library in the region. Home to 600,000 physical and digital titles across its huge building in Al Jaddaf, the collection comprises nine themed libraries, café, bookstore and indoor/outdoor amphitheatre.
• Opened in 2022, the Museum of the Future explores how science and technology could shape society in the coming decades. Its visitor exhibitions and Level 7 temporarily closed in early September 2026 for renewal, with reopening planned for Q1 2027. The Auditorium remains available for event bookings and seats up to 321 guests.
• Perhaps the most recognisable of Dubai's many attractions is the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which rises an incredible 828 m into the sky. This 160-storey monolith stands as the magnificent centrepiece of downtown and is adjacent to the famous Dubai Fountain, one of the world's largest water, music and light spectacles. A full experience here requires whizzing to the top of the tower or, for a VIP experience, a visit to the At.mosphere Restaurant & Lounge on level 122, with stunning views in an upscale setting.
• The Etihad Museum tells the fascinating story of the founding of the United Arab Emirates and the history and development of Dubai through a series of displays and interactive programmes, with a special focus on the years 1968-1974. Along the way, visitors learn about the country’s unique constitution and the rights, privileges and responsibilities it confers upon its citizens.
• With more than 150 million flowers in full bloom, the Dubai Miracle Garden has been one of the sweetest-smelling attractions in the world since it debuted, fittingly, on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Open from October to April and spanning nearly 250,000 sqm, the venue has been declared the largest vertical garden on earth by the Guinness World Records.
• One of the fastest-growing destinations in the world, Dubai is also one of the wealthiest. There is no better place to see its riches on display than at the country's souks, or traditional Arabian markets, set in the original heart of the city. Colourful, bustling and fascinating, these shops offer plenty of entertainment along with their share of Middle Eastern history. Dubai's famed Gold Souk features gold bracelets, necklaces and even breastplates, while the Spice Souk is filled with fragrant spices, herbs and dried fruit.
• Though Dubai teems with glamorous sports cars, motor bikes and private helicopters, this once was a city that relied mainly on abras — gondola-like boats — to transport people and goods up and down Dubai Creek. This is still a popular and scenic way to get around and offers a chance to watch old dhows (traditional sailing vessels) plying the Gulf's waters.
• Spend an afternoon playing polo like you've never experienced it — on the back of a camel, the UAE’s most treasured animal. At Camel Polo, your group will be divided into teams, and after a champagne toast will get instruction in how to swing a mallet. Next come the camels; professional riders control the animals upfront while the players hold on behind, wielding their mallets to (hopefully) score goals.
• Groups can experience the majesty of Dubai's desert in a number of ways, including by 4X4, with overnight stays and even by hot-air ballooning. Among the firms that organise desert activities is Platinum Heritage.
• No matter the time of the year, slaloming down the slopes in the middle of the desert is possible at Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East. Along with skiing, groups can enjoy snowboarding, ziplining and tobogganing — plus up-close-and-personal encounters with 20 friendly snow penguins.
• Dubai is home to one of the world's richest horse races, the Dubai World Cup. Next year's competition will take place on 30 March 2024.
• Dubai's Palm Island is famous for being the world's largest constructed island — visible from space. Each frond of its palm-tree shape houses a vast number of residential, commercial and entertainment properties, including several uber-luxury resorts like the Atlantis and, at the trunk, the ultra-modern Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai.
• The Dubai Balloon at Atlantis, The Palm offers panoramic views from a tethered helium balloon, rising up to 300 metres depending on weather conditions. Private flights are available for groups and events. The property also offers The Lost World Aquarium, a reimagined attraction with 14 themed chambers and more than 65,000 marine animals.
• Another is from the 360-degree observation deck The View at The Palm. At 240 m high, it offers spectacular views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline. Located on Level 52 of the Palm Tower, there is a café, exhibition showcasing the development of the island and aquarium tunnels.
• The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is a non-profit organisation that helps visitors understand the culture and customs of the UAE through cultural meals and conversations. It offers a setting for association fringe activities and delegate programmes, with Emirati dishes and Arabic coffee forming part of the experience.