Dubai: Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) today announced its 2025 results, delivering strong growth in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events hosted in Dubai, reinforcing the emirate's position as one of the world's premier destinations for trade and business events. DWTC welcomed 2.97 million attendees in 2025 across its Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) venues, a 12 percent year-on-year increase.
According to Emirates News Agency, the performance was driven by a diverse calendar of 401 events, up 6 percent annually, spanning international exhibitions, conferences, business and consumer events. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the DWTC, stated that 2025 was a record year for DWTC, reflecting the resilience and maturity of Dubai's business events ecosystem. The impressive participation and international engagement across various industry sectors highlight the enduring economic value that business events generate for the emirate.
A significant milestone in 2025 was the completion of Phase 1 of the Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion, which increased Dubai's capacity to host large-scale international events. The venue is ready for flagship gatherings in early 2026, demonstrating DWTC's ability to deliver complex projects at scale while maintaining operational continuity. DWTC hosted 134 MICE events in 2025, attracting 2.19 million participants, an 8 percent year-on-year increase. International attendees played a crucial role, reflecting Dubai's position as a global hub for trade, investment, and industry collaboration.
MICE events attracted approximately 951,000 international participants, accounting for 43 percent of the total. Across these MICE events, the number of exhibiting companies reached over 63,000, up 8 percent year-on-year, with 78 percent being international, further reinforcing Dubai's ability to attract leading global companies and decision-makers across key industries. DWTC organised 14 flagship exhibitions and events in 2025, attracting close to 630,000 participants, a 7 percent year-on-year increase.
The year 2025 also marked the accelerated international expansion of DWTC's event portfolio, with successful editions of GITEX Global delivered in key growth markets, including Europe and Africa, alongside expanded activity across Asia. DWTC's integrated event management and experiential agency, DXB LIVE, delivered strong performance in 2025, providing end-to-end solutions for over 442 major exhibitions, conferences, festivals, and international events.
Sector performance reflected the breadth of industries represented across DWTC's calendar, aligned with the priorities of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The Healthcare and Medical sector remained the largest, with 23 events attracting 436,000 participants, a 20 percent share of total MICE attendance. Major events included World Health Expo, AEEDC, and Medlab. The ICT, Electronics and Emerging Technology sector ranked second with 11 events and 341,000 participants, a 21 percent increase year-on-year, driven by GITEX Global.
Additionally, DWTC introduced seven new exhibitions in 2025, contributing 30,000 participants and 750 exhibiting companies. New additions included the Middle East Event Show and The Mining Show. The Dubai Exhibition Centre hosted 36 events, attracting 319,000 participants, enhancing Dubai's capacity to host large-scale international events.
DWTC continued to advance its ecosystem-driven growth strategy in 2025, reinforcing the strength and integration of its diversified business portfolio. The Free Zone maintained strong growth, licensing 850 new companies, and introduced the innovative Multiple Share Class Framework to support next-generation enterprises.
Almarri emphasized the importance of adaptability and long-term planning in the rapidly evolving landscape, ensuring DWTC remains well-positioned to support Dubai's long-term growth ambitions and create lasting economic impact in the years ahead.