Dubai – Mubasher: The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) attracted 3.43 million delegates in 2018, rising 4% from the previous year, the deputy chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) said.
The record results were supported by hosting 363 meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions, and business events, with a 3% year-on-year increase, including 97 large-scale events, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum added in a statement on Thursday.
“DWTC’s 2018 results are a clear reflection of our prioritisation of investments that yield the highest GDP impact for the emirate,” Al Maktoum noted.
The year-on-year visitation increase reflects the strength of DWTC’s business portfolio by drawing 54,717 exhibiting companies from 162 countries, including 41,147 foreign exhibitors, rising 5% from the previous year.
In terms of international participation, DWTC attracted 1.04 million foreign business travellers to Dubai, accounting for 41% of its total participant volumes.
In 2018, DWTC’s calendar introduced 28 new entrants including seven exhibitions, nine associations, and 12 conferences, including 13 large-scale events with above 2,000 attendees.
In total, DWTC’s 97 large-scale events drew 2.5 million participants, including 23 mega-events with more than 30,000 attendees for each event.
