More than 125,000 international visitors & 7,000 global exhibitors expected over 20 DWTC events

Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) November calendar of events is poised to attract more than 250,000 visitors out of which more than 50 per cent are expected to be international visitors and exhibitors. The diverse line-up of over 20 events, including Gulfood Manufacturing - the region’s largest food and beverage processing industry event - promises broad-ranging activity on each day of the month, and covers sectors as varied as construction, healthcare and entertainment, resulting in unprecedented global interest from companies and business travellers. With over 7,000 exhibitors, out of which 72% are projected to be international companies, DWTC’s events continue to drive major international business and trade through Dubai. 

Commenting on DWTC’s role in attracting regional and international visitors to Dubai, Ahmed Alkhaja, Senior Vice President – Venues, DWTC said: “DWTC provides a strategic platform for businesses from around the world to unite in Dubai. With DWTC’s highly diversified venue calendar and with key mega-events across strategic industries being added to our outlook, we can continue to expect year-on-year growth in visitor footfall, particularly in international participation from key source markets.”

The Global South-South Development Expo 2016 kick started the action in November by assembling one of the largest gatherings of government ministers, business leaders, developmental experts and specialists, who will spotlight South-South cooperation and present broad frameworks for enhanced collaborations amongst countries of the South in the political, socio-economic, cultural, environmental and technological realms.

The fifth edition of the International Congress on Joint Replacement on 3 November will host delegates from different specialties, ranging from Orthopedic Surgeons and Physiotherapists to Medical Students. Last year’s edition convened over 1,000 delegates from 59 countries and more 70 faculties from around the world are expected to meet to share their expertise and host interactive discussions. This year, physiotherapy and nursing parallel sessions have been added to the agenda alongside multiple cadaver courses to enrich the experience of attendees. The event also introduces hands-on physiotherapy workshops and presentations.

Taking place from 7-9 November, Gulfood Manufacturing offers an invaluable opportunity for visitors to gain insight into the region’s processing, packaging and manufacturing sectors. It also allows visitors to discover over 1,500 world-class suppliers with state-of-the-art solutions and packaging designs from around the globe. Over three days, this event will offer a cache of segmented, niche shows, conferences and technical workshops, including Ingredients Middle East, ProPack Middle East and Food Logistics Middle East. The three main conferences this year include, Next Generation Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Innovation and Food Logistics.

Coinciding with Gulfood Manufacturing is the Autumn Food Shows, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with more than 30 C-level buying delegations from the region’s major retail outlets, hotels and mass catering companies interested in specialist food events to source new products from around the world.

The month of November has a lot in store for those in the communications and media industry. The Big EntertainmentShow, which will be held from 14 – 15 of November, is a networking platform for regional and global industry players to explore business opportunities in the fields of TV, film, video games, interactive entertainment, animation, mobile, creative art and design, digital content, toys, music and brand licensing. The Big Entertainment Show provides an all-inclusive environment for industry professionals to develop new business relationships, explore joint partnerships and bolster the content industry in its different platforms and genres throughout the region.

An additional key event set to take place this November is The Big 5, running from 21–24 November. The Big 5 serves as an informative platform for attendees to gain incredible industry knowledge through free events, including The Design Summit that provides delegates insight into the strategies, opportunities and challenges facing designers and planners in the GCC. The Big 5 will also hold certified workshops where industry specialists share cutting-edge insights from personal experiences in the fields of project management, sustainability, business intelligence design and architecture, technology and engineering. In addition, the event will provide the ultimate opportunity to meet and network with over 1,500 world-class suppliers of state-of-the-art solutions and packaging designs.

“The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) sector is a key player when it comes to attracting international visitors to Dubai. During November, with international and local visitation volumes at DWTC expected to exceed a quarter million, the venue’s impact materializes into something that is not only economic but also evidently and uniquely social. As DWTC experiences increasing international participation, it continues to be a leading industry player positioning Dubai as a leading destination for businesses as well as visitors from around the globe,” Alkhaja added.