Dubai allocates $2.7bn to expand Exhibition Centre

The Dubai government has approved an AED10 billion ($2.72 billion) expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City to strengthen its position in the multi-billion-dollar regional events and exhibition sector.

The expansion, which will take place in three phases, will make DEC the region’s largest indoor exhibition and events destination, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.

The first phase, set for completion by 2026, will increase the DEC’s exhibition space to 140,000 sq m from more than double its current capacity of 58,000 sq m.

By 2028, the second phase will expand the exhibition space to 160,000 sq m, including upgrades to supporting infrastructure, road networks, and multi-storey parking facilities.

The final phase, expected to be completed by 2031, will increase the total indoor exhibition space to 180,000 sq m, featuring 26 halls on a single continuous level spanning 1.2 km. This will accommodate one mega event or up to 20 smaller events simultaneously.

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Additionally, the phase will include a 300-plus key hotel, retail outlets, commercial offices and an industrial kitchen.

On completion, the DEC will be 1.5 times larger than the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, allowing the emirate to double the number of large-scale events to more than 600 by 2033.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director-general of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said this expansion is in line with the goal to triple the economic contribution of Dubai’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (Mice) sector to AED54 billion annually by 2033.

The DEC expansion is part of Dubai’s broader urban development, which includes Expo City Dubai, the Dubai South community, and Al Maktoum International Airport.