Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion Advances as DWTC Targets AED 54 Billion Economic Output

Dubai World Trade Centre is advancing the AED 10 billion expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai as the emirate increases the scale and economic role of its exhibitions and business-events sector. The development forms part of a three-phase programme intended to transform Dubai Exhibition Centre into the region's largest purpose-built indoor events venue.

DWTC is simultaneously working toward a target of increasing the sector's annual economic output to AED 54 billion by 2033. The expansion is designed not simply to provide more exhibition floor space, but to enable Dubai to host larger events, multiple major events simultaneously and new international exhibitions across industries ranging from technology and healthcare to manufacturing and clean energy.

The first phase of the Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion has been completed. It increased the venue's indoor exhibition capacity to approximately 140,000 square metres, with the ability to accommodate up to 50,000 visitors per day. The expanded facilities include 64,000 square metres of additional permanent exhibition space and approximately 30,000 square metres of adaptable temporary event space. Large international exhibitions have already begun using the expanded venue.

DWTC says the additional capacity provides organisers with greater flexibility to scale established exhibitions while also allowing Dubai to accommodate events that previously required more space than was available.

Work is now continuing on the second phase of the expansion. Once completed, Phase 2 is expected to increase indoor exhibition space to approximately 160,000 square metres and raise daily visitor capacity to around 60,000. The current Dubai Exhibition Centre masterplan states that Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by 2029. The phase will also include:

• additional permanent exhibition halls;

• an expanded concourse;

• new Eastern Halls;

• approximately 100,000 square metres of dedicated service yards;

• an expanded road network; and

• multi-storey parking.

These supporting facilities are important because the ability to host large international exhibitions depends not only on floor area but also on logistics, visitor movement, vehicle access and the ability to service multiple events simultaneously.

The third and final phase is scheduled for completion by 2031. At full development, Dubai Exhibition Centre is expected to provide around 180,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space across a development extending approximately 1.2 kilometres. Daily visitor capacity is expected to reach 65,000, with the venue capable of hosting more than 20 events simultaneously.

The wider masterplan also provides for retail and food and beverage space, commercial offices, hotel accommodation, additional parking and a large external plaza. The objective is therefore to develop an integrated business-events destination rather than a standalone exhibition facility.

The expansion is linked to a broader economic target. DWTC aims to increase the annual economic output generated by the exhibitions and events sector to AED 54 billion by 2033. Major events hosted by DWTC generated AED 25.03 billion in economic output during 2025, compared with AED 22.35 billion in 2024. Approximately AED 14.66 billion of the 2025 figure represented gross value added to Dubai's economy.

The economic impact extends beyond event organisers and exhibition venues. International exhibitions generate activity across sectors including:

• hotels and hospitality;

• airlines and aviation;

• restaurants;

• transportation;

• logistics;

• professional services;

• tourism;

• retail; and

• local suppliers and contractors.

The economic objective is therefore to translate higher event participation into wider business activity, investment and commercial relationships.

DWTC is hosting more than 100 exhibitions, conferences and business events across its two venues during the final quarter of 2026. These span sectors including artificial intelligence, technology, energy, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, sustainability, trade and tourism. Major events include GITEX Global, Big 5 Global, WETEX, Gulfood Manufacturing and Automechanika.

However, the importance of the current development is broader than the number of events taking place during one quarter. The expansion is intended to give international organisers the capacity to grow existing Dubai events while attracting additional global exhibitions and conferences that require substantially larger venues.

2026 is also the first year in which DWTC has operated major events across two integrated venues:

the Dubai World Trade Centre complex in Dubai's central business district and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. The dual-venue structure gives organisers different options depending on the scale, format and infrastructure requirements of an event. It also creates greater capacity for Dubai to host several major international events at the same time.

Gulfood provides an example of that growth. DWTC reported that the event has expanded to more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.

The commercial importance of major exhibitions goes beyond visitor expenditure. International events bring together manufacturers, investors, distributors, government entities, technology companies, professional advisers and potential commercial partners.

For foreign companies evaluating the UAE or wider GCC, exhibitions can therefore function as an initial market-entry platform. Companies may use major Dubai events to:

• assess market demand;

• identify distributors or commercial partners;

• meet prospective customers;

• evaluate competitors;

• explore government and institutional opportunities;

• test product positioning; and

• determine whether permanent UAE operations should be established.

This makes the growth of Dubai's exhibition infrastructure relevant not only to the tourism and hospitality sectors but also to the emirate's wider investment and trade strategy.

NUR Advisory Note

The expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre reinforces Dubai's role as a platform for international business development, sector-specific market entry and commercial expansion. For foreign companies, participation in a major UAE exhibition should ideally form part of a wider market-entry strategy rather than being treated as an isolated marketing exercise.

Businesses considering exhibiting in Dubai should assess:

• the commercial objectives of participation;

• whether the UAE or GCC is a priority market;

• target customers and distribution channels;

• local licensing requirements;

• import and customs considerations;

• product registration or certification requirements;

• intellectual property protection before exhibiting;

• potential distributors or strategic partners;

• post-event business-development activity; and

• whether a permanent UAE entity may be required to convert opportunities into long-term business.

For international manufacturers in particular, Dubai's expanding exhibition ecosystem can provide direct access to buyers and partners from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The AED 10 billion investment in Dubai Exhibition Centre should therefore be viewed not only as infrastructure spending, but as part of a broader strategy to increase the amount of trade, investment and commercial activity generated around international business events.