DWTC execs reveal ambitious plans for Dubai Exhibition Centre

Dubai’s ambition to become the world’s leading business and events hub takes a significant leap forward with the Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) $10bn expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC).

Set to become the region’s largest indoor events venue, the expansion aligns with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) and 2040 Urban Master Plan, driving economic growth, sustainability, and global connectivity.

In a conversation with Mahir Julfar, executive vice president of DWTC, and Amer Alfarsi, acting vice president of Real Estate Development, DWTC, we explore how this monumental project is poised to reshape Dubai’s MICE sector and position the city as a future-focused global leader.

Mahir Julfar, EVP, DWTC

The ongoing expansion will see the DEC become the region’s largest indoor events venue. How do you foresee this scale and capacity changing the landscape of Dubai’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector?

Building on Dubai World Trade Centre’s world-class event-hosting infrastructure and over four decades of sustained economic value generation, the expanded DEC will serve as the new home for mega exhibitions.

The final phase by 2031 will bring the total indoor exhibition space to 180,000 square metres, featuring 26 halls on a single contiguous level that spans 1.2 kilometres, with the ability to hold one mega event or 20 multiple events simultaneously.

Our approach involves growing existing events and expanding into established and new industry sectors including technology, healthcare, food and beverages, financial services, energy, and real estate, while also introducing platforms to drive stronger global participation in rapidly evolving sectors such as media and entertainment, mobility, education, tourism, and manufacturing, ensuring we attract a broad spectrum of international and regional clients.

With a significant increase in exhibition space, how do you plan to host a growing number of large-scale events while ensuring the quality of each experience for exhibitors and visitors?

With the increase in exhibition space, our plans for DEC ensure a balance between hosting a greater number of large-scale events and maintaining exceptional quality for exhibitors and visitors alike. This is achieved through a targeted approach that leverages the unique strengths of each venue.

The DEC expansion is driven by Dubai’s rising status as a global business hub and the dynamic demands of an evolving international events industry.

The expanded capacity creates a clear differentiation between our venues, with DEC serving as the primary venue for mega exhibitions, global summits, and large-scale international events. In contrast, DICEC will remain the hub for conferences, association gatherings, and meetings, leveraging its prime location in the heart of Dubai and seamless connectivity to DXB.

DWTC is uniquely positioned to maximise the potential of both venues by capitalising on Dubai’s strategic location, allowing us to cater to a broad spectrum of events. This synchronised development creates a unique urban hub that showcases Dubai’s forward-thinking vision while ensuring operational efficiency.

This strategic approach supports our target to increase annual events from 300 to 600 by 2033 while ensuring each venue maintains its specialised focus and delivers exceptional experiences for exhibitors and visitors alike.

Given that Dubai aims to double the number of large-scale events by 2033, how do you envision the DEC expansion playing a central role in achieving this goal?

DEC will achieve increased event capacity through a strategic three-phase development with Phase 1 completion in 2026 delivering a daily visitor capacity of 50,000 people. Phase 2 in 2028 will enhance the supporting venue infrastructure, road network and dedicated multi-story parking.

The final phase by 2031 will bring the total indoor exhibition space to 180,000 square metres, featuring 26 halls on a single contiguous level that can hold one mega event or 20 multiple events simultaneously. Each phase expands our ability to host concurrent events, optimising the venue’s operational capabilities throughout the calendar year.

To support this ambitious growth, DEC will integrate smart traffic systems and immersive digital experiences designed for simultaneous event management. The venue’s advanced security protocols and state-of-the-art surveillance systems are scaled to handle increased visitor numbers, ensuring efficient processing of larger crowds while maintaining a secure environment.

Amer Alfarsi, acting VP – Real Estate Development, DWTC

The DEC expansion is a monumental project with a Dhs10bn investment. Can you walk us through the key milestones achieved so far in Phase 1?

The DEC expansion is a landmark investment of Dhs10bn, representing a strategic investment that will drive substantial returns for Dubai while enhancing DWTC’s contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

Phase 1 of the DEC expansion showcases unprecedented engineering and construction scale, with enabling and piling work contracts finalised, main contractor and primary subcontractors appointed, and works currently advancing towards erecting the first steel columns in the structures that make up phase one of the expansion.

Phase 1 of the construction project is underway with foundation work involving 515 piles to support the structure, 14,000 tonnes of structural steel — equivalent to the weight of two Eiffel Towers and 48,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete.

The expanded exhibition centre will be covered with 78,000 square metres of roof sheeting, an area comparable to 62 Olympic-size swimming pools. Supporting infrastructure includes multi-storey car park buildings and expanded marshalling yards to optimise event turn-around times. The development’s LEED certification from the US Green Building Council will also ensure operational efficiency while minimising environmental impact through sustainable design elements.

Scheduled for completion in 2026, Phase 1 of DEC expansion, will add 64,000 square metres of permanent exhibition space, plus approximately 30,000 sqm of temporary exhibition space, bringing the total exhibition space to 140,000 square metres with a daily visitor capacity of 50,000 people.

How does DWTC plan to integrate sustainability into the construction and operation of the expanded facility?

Sustainability is at the heart of DEC’s expansion, aligning with Dubai’s broader sustainability goals. The venue is already LEED certified and incorporates environmentally conscious design elements to optimise operational efficiency while minimising environmental impact.

We have implemented green building practices, energy-efficient systems, eco-friendly materials, and renewable energy integration to achieve significant milestones: a 22 per cent reduction in energy consumption, a 40 per cent decrease in indoor water use, and a 50 per cent reduction in outdoor water usage.

Tell us how the expansion of the DEC aligns with the broader vision of Expo City Dubai and Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan.

The DEC expansion has been strategically planned to align with the visionary goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan complemented by Expo City Dubai Masterplan and the recently announced expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport.

This synchronised development approach creates a unique urban hub that showcases Dubai’s forward-thinking vision for establishing a future city. When Phase 1 of expansion is completed in 2026, DEC will benefit from enhanced connectivity and infrastructure, creating seamless accessibility for business visitors and event attendees.

Expo City Dubai, designed as the city’s next urban epicentre and the UAE’s first 15-minute city, where residents and visitors can access everything they need within a short walk or bike ride, offers seamless access to business, residential, and leisure facilities, making it a prime destination for both residents and visitors.

The DEC expansion will not only serve as an anchor for the future city, the wider Dubai South community, and DWC but also act as a magnet for high-profile business events, driving new investments, attracting international visitors, and significantly boosting business tourism, contributing to increased footfall in the district.

DEC’s robust infrastructure plans offer easy access to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and direct connectivity to the Expo 2020 Metro Station. It also connects to popular districts and destinations via the metro’s red line, including Ibn Battuta Mall, Festival Plaza Jebel Ali, Dubai Investment Park, and DMCC.

Building on this foundation, DEC, a venue for the future, in a city for the future, will play a pivotal role in tripling DWTC’s contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), and positioning Dubai among the top three global cities for business, tourism, and trade.

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