Research for exhibitors and media
UAE Exhibition Industry Statistics 2026
Attendance, exhibitors, economic impact and the biggest shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from the latest official venue results and organiser reports. Every figure links to its source.
Last updated 21 October 2026. Venue figures cover the 2025 calendar year, the latest full year published.
- 2.97 millionpeople attended events at Dubai World Trade Centre in 2025, up 12% on 2024.[1]
- AED 25 billioneconomic output generated by DWTC events for Dubai in 2025.[2]
- 63,000+exhibiting companies at DWTC exhibitions and conventions in 2025, 78% of them international.[1]
- 43%of DWTC exhibition and convention participants came from overseas in 2025.[1]
- AED 9.2 billioneconomic impact of ADNEC Group in 2025, up 8% on 2024.[3]
- 504international business events won by Dubai in 2025 for the next four years, up 15%.[4]
Dubai World Trade Centre, 2025
Nearly 3 million people through DWTC in a year.
Dubai World Trade Centre hosts most of Dubai’s trade shows. These are its 2025 results.[1]
- Total events401, up 6%
- Total attendees2.97 million, up 12%
- Exhibitions and conventions134 events, 2.19 million participants
- International participantsAbout 951,000 (43%)
- Exhibiting companies63,000+, 78% international
- Flagship events14 events, close to 630,000 participants
- New exhibitions launched7, adding 30,000 participants
- Conferences25, with 62,000 participants
Sectors
Healthcare draws the biggest crowds.
Participants at DWTC exhibitions and conventions in 2025, by sector. Tech events grew 21% on 2024.[1]
Economic impact
Every AED 1 spent at a DWTC event adds AED 5.5 to Dubai’s economy.
The 2025 economic impact of events held at Dubai World Trade Centre.[2]
- Economic output for DubaiAED 25.03 billion
- Added to Dubai’s GDPAED 14.66 billion
- Direct spendingAED 13.48 billion
- Spent on accommodationAED 3.79 billion
- Jobs supported94,000+
- Output per AED 1 spentAED 5.5
- Overseas attendee spendAED 9,900+ per event
- Average overseas stay5.6 days
Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City
Dubai’s second exhibition hub is growing fast.
Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City now hosts GITEX Global, Automechanika and part of Gulfood and WHX Dubai. Its 2025 figures:[1]
- Event space after phase 1140,000 sq m
- Events in 202536, with 319,000 participants
- Exhibitions and conferences18, with 130,000 participants
- Exhibiting companies1,800
Abu Dhabi, 2025
ADNEC Group delivered a record AED 9.2 billion.
ADNEC Group runs ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, home to ADIPEC, IDEX and the World Future Energy Summit. Event and visitor totals include its other venues, such as ADNEC Centre Al Ain and ExCeL London.[3]
- Economic impactAED 9.2 billion, up 8%
- Hotel room nights2.17 million
- Events across ADNEC venues1,149, up 15%
- Visitors across ADNEC venues6.3 million, up 17%
- Jobs supported by ADNEC venues70,000+
- IDEX and NAVDEX 2025206,073 visitors, up 55%
What is coming
Dubai won 504 international business events in 2025.
Dubai Business Events results for 2025. Dubai also ranked first in the world for average attendance per association meeting.[4]
- Business events won in 2025504, up 15%
- Expected delegates by 2029272,262, up 29%
- Bids submitted747, up 11%
- Supported events held in 2025481, up 9%
The biggest shows
UAE trade shows by the numbers.
Latest published figures from each show’s most recent edition. Where an organiser did not publish a figure, we show n/a rather than estimate.
| Show | Exhibitors | Visitors | Countries | Also reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Airshow 2025 | 1,500+ | 248,788 visitors | 115 | Deals worth over US$202 billion[5] |
| ADIPEC 2025 | n/a | 239,709 attendees, up 17% | 172 | US$46 billion in agreements[6] |
| IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 | 1,565 | 206,000+ visitors | 167 (visitors) | Exhibitors from 65 countries[11] |
| Big 5 Global 2025 | 2,866 | 85,093 attendees | 169 | 24 country pavilions[9] |
| Intersec 2026 | 1,180 | 44,764 trade visitors | 151 | 82% of exhibitors international[10] |
| Light + Intelligent Building ME 2026 | 340 | 16,473 visitors | 95 | Exhibitors from 30 countries[12] |
| AIME and MRO Middle East Latest edition | 330 | 8,937 attendees | 102 | 900 airline and lessor buyers[13] |
| Gulfood 2026 | 8,500+ | n/a | 195 (products) | 280,000+ sq m across two venues[8] |
| GITEX Global 2025 | 6,800+ | n/a | 180 | 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors[7] |
For upcoming dates of these and more than 70 other shows, see our UAE exhibition calendar.
What it means for exhibitors
Four takeaways from the numbers.
- i.
Your audience is international
43% of participants at DWTC exhibitions and conventions came from overseas in 2025. Plan content that works for buyers who will not be in the hall next week, in English and the languages of your key markets.
- ii.
Competition for attention is huge
More than 63,000 companies exhibited at DWTC alone in 2025. A stand needs a clear story, and content that keeps working after the show closes.
- iii.
Healthcare and tech lead
Healthcare drew the most participants, and tech events grew 21% in a year. These are the most crowded show floors, where planning ahead matters most.
- iv.
Two venues, one city
With Expo City now hosting major shows, check the venue before booking hotels and crew. Some shows, like Gulfood and WHX Dubai, now use both.
Sources
Where every figure comes from.
We use official venue results, government media offices and organiser reports. When sources disagree, we use the official venue or organiser figure.
- Dubai Media Office: DWTC welcomes nearly 3 million participants in 2025
- Gulf News: DWTC events generate record Dh25 billion for Dubai in 2025
- Gulf Today / WAM: ADNEC Group posts record Dh9.2 billion economic impact in 2025
- Dubai Media Office: Dubai secures 504 global business events in 2025
- Dubai Media Office: Dubai Airshow 2025 attracts over 248,000 visitors
- Abu Dhabi Media Office: ADIPEC 2025 delivers US$46bn in cross-sector agreements
- Zawya: GITEX Global 2025 closes its 45th edition
- Gulf Business: Gulfood 2026 across two venues
- Big 5 Global 2025 post-show report
- International Fire & Safety Journal: record exhibitor numbers at Intersec 2026
- IDEX official site
- Messe Frankfurt: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East
- Aviation Week: why exhibit at AIME
Disclaimer: All figures come from the third-party sources listed above and are shown as they were published. Visione Globale does not independently verify this data and is not responsible for any errors, omissions or later changes by the original sources. Please check the original source before relying on any figure. Show names and trademarks belong to their owners. This page is for general information only.
Use these statistics
Free to quote, with a link.
Journalists, bloggers and event companies are welcome to use these figures. Please credit and link to this page.
FAQs
UAE exhibition statistics FAQs.
i.How many people attend exhibitions in Dubai each year?
Dubai World Trade Centre alone welcomed 2.97 million attendees across 401 events in 2025, up 12% on 2024. Its 134 exhibitions and conventions drew 2.19 million participants, 43% of them from overseas.
ii.What is the economic impact of exhibitions in the UAE?
Events at Dubai World Trade Centre generated AED 25.03 billion in economic output for Dubai in 2025. ADNEC Group, which runs ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, reported a record AED 9.2 billion economic impact in the same year.
iii.What is the largest exhibition in the UAE?
By attendance, the biggest recent shows include the Dubai Airshow 2025 with 248,788 visitors, ADIPEC 2025 with 239,709 attendees and IDEX 2025 with over 206,000 visitors. By exhibitors, Gulfood 2026 had more than 8,500 and GITEX Global 2025 more than 6,800, the highest among the shows listed here.
iv.Which sectors draw the most exhibition visitors in Dubai?
At DWTC in 2025, healthcare and medical events drew the most participants (436,000 across 23 events), followed by ICT and emerging technology (341,000, up 21%) and food and beverage (280,000).
v.How many international business events did Dubai win in 2025?
Dubai Business Events secured 504 international business events in 2025, up 15% on 2024, expected to bring about 272,000 delegates to Dubai by 2029.
Exhibiting in the UAE?
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