As Dubai gathers momentum with the resumption of conferences, meetings and exhibitions, its Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has formed a new "Business Events Stakeholders Committee," reinforcing its commitment to engaging with the industry and re-establishing its place at the heart of Dubai’s economic growth and development as a knowledge hub.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai Tourism, chaired the committee’s inaugural meeting on September 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre, updating members on the latest progress in reactivating the sector in the aftermath of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and facilitating discussions around opportunities and challenges.
Comprising key industry stakeholders, the committee, which will meet regularly throughout the year, provides a platform for two-way dialogue around the continuous strategic and operational development of Dubai’s competitive position as a host city for international business events. Among the participants in the inaugural session were senior officials from airlines, venues, hotels, destination management companies (DMCs) and professional congress organizers (PCOs). Organizations represented included Emirates, Dubai World Trade Centre, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Alpha Destination Management, MCI Middle East and Expo 2020 Dubai.
Enabled by guidelines from Dubai Tourism and an aligned approach taken by stakeholders across the public and private sectors, the industry is looking to rapidly and safely rescale, with local business events resuming on September 15 and international business events set to return from October 1. Upcoming events in the city include The Airport Show (26-28 October), Annual Radiology Meeting (1-3 November) and Cityscape’s 2020 Real Estate Summit (16-17 November).
"Dubai has steadily reopened key economic sectors, building on the support that was provided throughout the pandemic and the measures put in place to minimize its impact," said the director general in a press statement. "In line with this, we have been working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure a framework is in place to resume business events that can be best-in-class while at the same time prioritizing the health and safety of all participants.
“The formation of this committee underlines the collaborative approach we have sought to take across all our activities and in relation to all the tourism sub-sectors, and reinforces our commitment to supporting our stakeholders and ensuring Dubai leads the global post-pandemic recovery. Business events play a critical role in driving economic development and knowledge growth in Dubai and, with the city’s status as the Middle East’s undisputed hub for conferences, exhibitions and meetings, the resumption of activity here will have an impact on the wider region.”
Underpinning the resumption of business events this month are guidelines for organizers and venues that prioritize the health and safety of all parties involved, while at the same time facilitating the meetings, conversations, networking and learning opportunities that attendees seek. These complement the measures already in place across other touchpoints across the city, including airports, hotels, attractions and dining establishments that have already paved the way for the resumption of tourism since 7 July.
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