The continued growth of Dubai’s economy is the result of
a cohesive, future-focused strategy built on world-class infrastructure,
compelling attractions and ever-increasing levels of investment. This
integrated approach has not only enhanced the city’s global competitiveness but
also reinforced its status as one of the world’s most dynamic and desirable event
destinations
Dubai continues to reinforce its position as one of the world’s leading event destinations powered by planning, global partnerships and a future-focused tourism strategy.
The city welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors in 2024, marking a 9 per cent year-on-year increase. Overnight visitor numbers from January to July this year are up 5 per cent on the same period last year. These milestone achievements
reflect the political vision of its leaders to establish Dubai as one of the world’s most innovative and forward-looking cities.
The strategy is set out in the ambitious goals of the Dubai
Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy in the decade up to 2033 and further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for business and leisure.
Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s convention bureau, secured a record 437 international association conferences, congresses, corporate meetings and incentive programmes in 2024, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.
Ranking number one
The Ciel Dubai Marina will be the world’s tallest hotelDubai’s success on the world stage was also recognised by a series of prestigious international accolades last year, including:
- No 1 global destination for an unprecedented third consecutive year (2022-2024) in the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards
- The world’s leading Shopping and Exhibition destination at the 31st annual World Travel Awards
- Among the top five safest cities in the world in the Numbeo Safety Index
- No 1 globally for foreign direct investment (FDI) into tourism-related projects, according to The Financial Times’ fDi Markets real-time tracking database
- Dubai International (DXB) retaining its crown as the world’s busiest international airport
Here we examine how the key pillars of Dubai’s phenomenal infrastructure have been strategically expanded and integrated in recent years – with, of course, substantial developments to come.
Flying
high
With 2.5 billion people living within a four-hour flight, and five billion within an eight-hour flight, Dubai offers events and business easy access to the world’s largest emerging growth markets. With its excellent
accessibility, associations and corporates are keen to make the most of the opportunities Dubai offers to reach emerging markets, increase membership and attract first-time attendees to events.
Through substantial investment in transport
infrastructure and logistics capabilities, Dubai has become a major and competitive regional trade gateway. And it’s quite some story.
Work began on Dubai Airport in 1959; by 1965 DXB served 20 destinations and nine airlines; in 2002 it was ranked the second fastest growing airport in the world and by 2014 it had become the world’s busiest international airport.
Last year the airport hit an all-time high of 92.3 million guests - breaking its own record and taking top position for the 11th consecutive year.
DXB currently has the capacity to accommodate up to 100 million guests annually, which is set to grow to more than 120 million through an ongoing process enhancement programme designed to elevate efficiency and guest experience. And it is home to flagship
carrier Emirates, whose impressive growth has run alongside that of the airport.
And now work has begun on the expansion of the new Dubai
World Central Airport, which will become the city’s main hub. Its AED128 billion passenger terminal will be the largest in the world, able to handle 260 million passengers annually. Five times the size of the current DBX, whose operations will be
transferred in the coming years, it will have 400 aircraft gates, five parallel runways and is expected to have capacity for 150 million passengers by 2033.
Legendary hotels
Burj Al ArabDubai’s hotel portfolio has long been at the heart of its tourism and events proposition. Iconic hotels like the Burj Al Arab, which opened in 1999, helped put the city on the map and, arguably, drive up standards around the world.
Diversification across different categories since has helped to fulfil the requirements of associations looking for budget options and corporates seeking high-end thrills. It’s hard to think of another destination that has built such a reputation
for the glamour and style of its accommodation in such a short time.
Today there are an extraordinary 150,000 hotel rooms available with developments continuing into new areas such as Dubai South and Jebel Ali. This will help meet the needs of event organisers looking to take advantage of the many excellent venues in these
areas not least of which are those in Expo City and the new expansion at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Always across the latest trends, Dubai is also seeing growth in wellness hotels. The AED2 billion Therme Dubai, for instance, will be the world’s tallest wellbeing resort featuring a huge interactive park, with the largest indoor botanical garden
on earth and three 18-metre waterfalls. Expected to open in 2028, it will be set over nearly 50,000 sqm and be 100m tall. Offering a thermal complex, indoor and outdoor pools plus natural and luxurious spa treatments, the resort will recycle 90 per
cent of the water used in its thermal pools and 80 per cent of the fresh air and cooling needs will be met through clean energy sources.
This exciting new resort is also an excellent example of the city’s integrated development and will form a key part of the Quality of Life Strategy 2033, which includes more than 1,000 annual events, developing more than 200 parks and expanding cycling tracks on beaches by 300 per cent.
Reaching for the skies, the Ciel Dubai Marina“This innovative project reflects our commitment to enhancing urban biodiversity and environmental sustainability,” said Crown Prince of Dubai Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. “Creating enriching experiences for Dubai’s residents and
visitors.”
The world’s tallest hotel is also due to open soon. An award-winning architectural icon, The Ciel Dubai Marina will stand at 377m and offer 1,004 rooms on 82 floors.
Mandarin Oriental has just opened its second property in Dubai. The Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai is set within the striking Wasl Tower, a new architectural icon on Sheikh Zayed Road, and has
259 rooms and suites, 224 exclusive residences and unobstructed views of both the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline.
The hotel group has also unveiled plans for a property due to open in 2030 close to two championship golf courses with a spa and equestrian centre
Transforming
transport
The Dubai Metro was inaugurated in 2009 with ten stations. What began as a strategic initiative to connect key areas of the emirate has grown into a world-class driverless metro network, transforming how Dubai’s residents and visitors move through
the city. From 38.8 million passengers in 2010, last year it transported a record 275.4 million passengers.
Dubai MetroThe Dubai Metro Blue Line is the next phase in the city’s ambitious public transport plan. The 30km line will add 14 stations to the current 64 including hubs at Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The first Metro bridge across
Dubai Creek will stretch 1,300 metres. Offering direct connections to Dubai International Airport and nine major districts, it is being built as part of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 in full compliance with platinum-level green building standards.
Next year will see the launch of the world’s first flying taxi service, offering 10-minute, low-cost flights between popular landmarks. A collaboration between the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, JOBY Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure,
the first test flight was completed in June.
Flights will take off from four key points in the city initially: Dubai International Airport, Dubai Downtown, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
The city aims to be the first in the world to roll out a commercial, city-wide electric aerial taxi service and vertiport (allowing taxis to take off and land vertically) network.
Expected to cost around the same as an Uber Black, they will slash journey times.
Ever-expanding
venue space
Dubai’s first skyscraper was the Sheikh Rashid Tower, opened in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II. This has since developed into the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC),
a business district area and home to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the region’s most important event space spanning 120,000 sqm.
H1 2025 results for DWTC’s Hospitality division show a year-on-year increase of 11.8 per cent in guest numbers and 6.7 per cent in catered events.
Expo CityMahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, said: “In a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape, our H1 2025 performance reflects DWTC Hospitality’s agility and ambition in reimagining the guest experience. By combining
operational scale, culinary creativity and strategic partnerships, we are proud to support Dubai’s growing events economy with hospitality experiences that set new benchmarks.”
Exhibition catering witnessed standout growth, with a 105 per cent increase in guests served.
Owned and operated by DWTC, the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) offers 45,000 sqm of exhibition space spread across two campuses, a theatre, auditoria, multi-purpose halls, suites and 24 meeting rooms. It is situated near the new airport development
at Expo City. Developed for Expo 2020 and now designated a Carbon Neutral venue, Expo City boasts an array of fantastic event spaces in different styles and all with an impressive sustainable ethos.
As part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan to transform Expo City into a dynamic economic hub and meet the growing demand for exhibition space, the DEC is currently undergoing a vast expansion in three phases to become the MENA region’s largest
indoor venue with more than 180,000 sqm of event space by 2031.
The ambition and drive in the city continues apace and however often you choose it as the host destination for your event, the only thing that’s certain is you’ll have more to choose from than on your last visit.
For more information, click here.
