Dubai’s growing business events offerings and increasing levels of support for associations are among the key developments under the spotlight this week at IMEX America, the leading exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.

Planners are finding out about the latest venues and activities for business event groups, including La Perle, a new permanent aqua theatre show created by Franco Dragone, and the 150-metre tall Dubai Frame, which offers views of both the historic and modern parts of the city. They are also discovering the latest hospitality options, with over 105,000 rooms across Dubai, including new properties such as Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai and Address Boulevard.

Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and a division of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, once again has a strong presence at the show, which is taking place 10-12 October at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, USA. 

DBE has been joined by 10 co-exhibitors, including Emirates Airlines, Jumeirah Hotels, JW Marriott Marquis and Arabian Adventures, to showcase the city’s well-rounded proposition and the opportunities that are available for planners and organisers seeking to host small, medium or large-scale business events. DBE is also highlighting the upcoming Dubai Association Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai from 11-12 December.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “IMEX America offers a unique opportunity to communicate directly with meeting planners and business event organisers, not just based in the USA, but also from the wider North America and neighbouring South America regions. With such a wide reach, the industry event is an ideal platform to showcase significant developments in Dubai’s business events offering. We are focused towards strengthening Dubai’s reputation as a leading business events destination, as we acknowledge the crucial role that business events are playing in transforming the city into a global knowledge hub. Along with our partners and key Dubai stakeholders, we aim to showcase the emirate’s world-class facilities and infrastructure across the business, leisure and hospitality sectors."

The inaugural Dubai Association Conference is scheduled to take place in Dubai from 11-12 December. Themed ‘Building a Community’, it is set to welcome association executives from around the world, in addition to government representatives, university faculties and students, as well as professionals seeking to develop associations. The Conference will provide a valuable platform to gain insights from international experts on trends including membership, online communities, restructuring education, volunteerism and governance, among others. 

Speaking at IMEX America, Steen Jakobsen, Director, Dubai Business Events said: “IMEX America provides us with an invaluable opportunity to engage with the business events community, and this year we once again have a strong presence. During our time in Las Vegas, we are hosting a breakfast for 50 global meeting planners, a dinner event for another 50 key decision makers and trade media as well as destination presentations and one-to-one meetings at the Dubai stand.

“IMEX America is also one of the key milestones in our journey towards the first-ever Dubai Association Conference, and we are already seeing substantial interest from potential delegates. We aim to further build on this interest at IMEX America as we steadily approach the Conference scheduled to take place later this year.”

DBE witnessed a strong performance in the first half of the year, with the bureau reporting 97 bid wins that were awarded to the city. The events secured in the first half of 2017 are poised to attract over 51,636 delegates from around the world, resulting in an economic impact of approximately AED 375 million. Visitors to the Dubai stand at IMEX America can experience first-hand the factors that have contributed to the city’s success in attracting major international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions from around the world and across diverse sectors.

www.visitdubai.com

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is pleased to celebrate their first year of business on 10 October 2017. To date, OCEC has hosted 101 events and welcomed over 750,000 visitors who have attended a variety of events and helped to boost the local economy.

OCEC inaugurated the opening of the first phase; 22,000sqm of exhibition space, last year with their first event, Infra Oman organised by Al Nimr Expo. The event was such a success with increased demand that InfraOman is back again to the same venue for the 7th International Exhibition for Infrastructure & Industrial Projects, marking OCEC’s 101st event on its first anniversary on 10 October.

Much more is to come, as December will feature OCEC’s first international events with the ACI Airport Exchange 2017 (Conference and Exhibition),  bringing the world’s airport community to the Gulf for the largest event in the Airport Council International’s calendar, and just ahead of the anticipated opening of the new Muscat International Airport. This will be closely followed by the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, which places Oman’s rich heritage in the world’s spotlight as over 65 ministers from around the globe have confirmed their attendance.

This is just the beginning for the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, as they have successfully won bids for 11 major regional and international conferences with the support of the local authorities and organisations in Oman such as the Oman Convention Bureau, Oman Air, OAMC, Hotels, Destination Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Omran and various local associations. OCEC is working diligently on international bids for events scheduled as far ahead as 2024.

Trevor McCartney, General Manager of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, says: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Salim Al Hashmi, General Manager and the team at Al Nimr International Exhibition Organisers back to OCEC and wish them a successful event and we look forward to many more years of collaboration ahead.”

This marks a milestone as OCEC is set to unveil yet another phase that is to launch soon and includes a tiered theatre with 3,200 seats, a 450-seat auditorium, two ballrooms for banquets for up to 1,200 guests, 20 meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 360 delegates, hospitality suites and a VIP pavilion.

The precinct includes a JW Marriott Hotel (five star) linked to the Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel (four star) which represent 600 hotel rooms in total The OCEC precinct is a key component of Madinat al Irfan - the stunning new urban lifestyle development being developed by Omran (Oman Tourism Development Company), the master developer for OCEC and many other tourism projects in Oman. 

www.omanconvention.com

The second edition of Middle East Meetings Forum, which takes place on December 10, will bring together senior executives from various sectors across the Middle East. HQ asks the organisers (Dubai Business Events and ICCA Middle East Chapter) and event partner (PCMA) what drives the business growth in Dubai and the Middle East.

ibtm arabia is an exclusive one-to-one format event, which will this year see the introduction of ibtm events’ enhanced Hosted Buyer programme. Hosted Buyers have been pre-selected and qualified, allowing them to be fast-tracked through the process. This means that the team can be even more targeted in ensuring the highest calibre Hosted Buyers are invited to attend the event The programme also has been designed to deliver added value for exhibitors, by targeting buyers matched according to exhibitor needs.

Following conversations with and feedback from Hosted Buyers and exhibitors about maximising the value of attending the event, for the first time this year, domestic Hosted Buyers will be able to attend solely on the third day of the event, rather than for the entire duration, in order to ensure that meeting time is used as efficiently as possible.

ibtm arabia is the most established event of its kind in the Middle East MICE industry, and provides Hosted Buyers with a personalised timetable of one-to-one meetings with a hand-picked selection of Exhibitors. With over 2,100 pre-planned meetings taking place during the three-day event in 2017, the event was hailed a great success.

Meetings for the 250+ industry professionals are scheduled by mutually-matching exhibitors and Hosted Buyers using ibtm events’ bespoke ‘matchmaking’ software, ensuring the best possible return on investment. As a result, attendees can leave the event knowing they’ve met with the most relevant industry professionals for their business’ needs.

Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia, comments: “We’re really excited to launch this year’s event. We’ve worked hard since the last edition to understand how we can further enhance the programme to ensure it’s as productive as possible for our attendees. We’ve added several new opportunities for exhibitors, including the chance for them to hold destination presentations in our central hub area, as well as panel sessions where they can discuss and debate some of the industry’s most pressing issues. 

“We work very closely with our partners and customers to create an experience that works for everyone, from the bespoke match-making system to the variety of networking events, putting us ahead of the curve in the industry, and making ibtm arabia an unmissable event.”

The format of the event has been designed to embrace the importance of networking and relationship building ahead of doing business, with more than 10 networking events held over the three-day-long show. 

Discovery Day, which takes place on the first day of the event, gives Hosted Buyers the chance to network in a more relaxed environment, whilst also seeing the sites and experiencing the local culture of Abu Dhabi. 

Hosted Buyers can register their interest to attend ibtm arabia, following an updated process which requires them to produce three supplier references; one of business placed in the previous 12 months and two being proof of future business. They will be accommodated in a 5-star luxury seafront resort for 3 days whilst they meet with their matched suppliers.

www.ibtmevents.com

www.ibtmarabia.com

www.ibtmarabia.com/en/Hosted-Buyers

Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, has reported strong results for the first half of 2017, with 97 bids submitted to host business events being successfully awarded to the city. The events secured since January, including conferences, exhibitions, meetings and incentive trips, are poised to attract over 51,636 delegates from around the world, resulting in an expected economic impact of approximately AED 375 million.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said:“Dubai has grown tremendously to become a leading destination for international business events. We recognise the significance of the business events industry, and acknowledge the various growth facets each event brings to the city. Not only do they accelerate our journey towards becoming a knowledge-sharing economy, but business events are also major contributors towards our goal of welcoming 20 million visitors each year by 2020.”

In the first six months, Dubai Business Events won a total of 97 pitches to host business events in the city, and is currently awaiting verdict on 97 more that have been submitted. Key wins include: Baby Care Annual Incentive (2018), World Conference on Desalination and Water Re-Use (2019), and Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (2022).

Dubai Business Events has also ramped up efforts to highlight the city’s business events offering to international audiences. DBE representatives have attended over 50 trade events in the first half of the year, interacting with over 4,500 business events buyers and planners. The bureau has also facilitated a total of 16 site inspections with 38 clients, and hosted 144 buyers from around the world as part of four in-depth Dubai study missions.

Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events, said: “We’ve had a stellar start to the year, and are well on our way to achieving our targets set for 2017. As we continue to work towards further strengthening Dubai’s reputation of being a premier host destination for business events, we have a steady pipeline of initiatives planned for the year ahead. We are also focusing on expanding our network and reach globally, enabling businesses, event buyers and planners to benefit from our expertise.”

Dubai Business Event’s Al Safeer Ambassador Programme has also contributed significantly to the city’s success in bidding for international events. The programme features a network of 300 prominent experts from diverse sectors, including academia, finance, and healthcare, who are based in Dubai. Since January, the programme contributed to securing a total of 11 business events for the city.

Further study missions in 2017 will come from India, China, the Americas and Southeast Asia, while DBE will also build on its participation in major trade shows with a significant presence at IMEX America in Las Vegas and IBTM World in Barcelona towards the end of the year.

Recently, Dubai was named as one of the top 10 destinations for international meetings by Union of International Associations (UIA) in its latest edition of the International Meetings Statistics Report published last month. The city previously ranked 14^th in the 2015 edition, and moved up the list with a total of 180 meetings taking place in 2016. 

www.visitdubai.com

The Jordan Convention Bureau, part of the tourism board’s 2017-2019 strategy, began developing formal partnerships with major players within the past few months leading up to its official launch gaining over 44 industry partners. These partners include some of the most important convention and exhibition centers, hotels, as well as professional service suppliers and agencies in the business. 

JTB Managing Director Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat stated “we’re proud to finally have this convention Bureau for Jordan,” he added: ‘’we at JTB are starting a new phase of promotion for international conferences in Jordan, not only because it will result in increasing tourism to the Kingdom but also because it will increase the presence of Jordan in various crucial international industries.”

Dr. Arabiyat also added: “The convention bureau has been in development for quite some time. Its inception was in 2014 where JTB in cooperation with USAID / Siyaha project launched the MICE strategy to increase its level of competitiveness in the global meetings industry. The strategy’s mission has been defined as a need to grow tourism receipts by capitalizing on the globally-competitive MICE industry and its vision is to position Jordan as one of the top destinations within the region. We recognized that a specialized department and team need to be fully dedicated to this project and we launched the bureau.”

The Jordan Tourism Board has also established a National Ambassador program to identify Jordanian thought leaders in key industry sectors and to develop long term partnerships with them. The bureau has begun its cooperation with these Jordanian thought leaders on producing bids for large international conferences in order to showcase Jordan and to strengthen the Kingdom’s presence within the international industry.

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions – more commonly referred to by the acronym MICE– is a specialized economic activity that involves facilitating the gathering of large groups of people in place for a business purposes. MICE is closely connected to the tourism industry and is a multi-billion dollar industry that ranges from small meetings to major global conferences and exhibitions that draw tens of thousands of people.

fr.visitjordan.com

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the city is gearing up to host delegates from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) at its International Conference, scheduled to take place in Dubai next year. Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, collaborated with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the UAE Internal Auditors Association (IAA) to successfully bid for the event.

With the 2017 International Conference concluding in Sydney, Australia, Dubai is accelerating preparations to host the 2018 conference, which is expected to attract approximately 3,500 delegates from 110 countries. The conference will take place at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, part of the Dubai World Trade Centre complex, from 6^th – 9^th May 2018.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said:“Professional associations play a significant role in the growth of specific industries and make an important contribution towards knowledge-sharing and industry progression around the globe. As we work to strengthen Dubai’s reputation as an ideal destination to host business events, and most importantly, a global knowledge hub, business events such as the IIA International Conference further fuel our journey towards achieving our goal.”

The IIA is an international professional association headquartered in Florida, USA, with over 185,000 members around the globe. Established in 1941, the authority comprises members who work in internal auditing, risk management, governance, internal control, information technology audit, education, and security.

Themed ‘Connecting the World Through Innovation’, the 2018 IIA International Conference in Dubai will lay emphasis on innovation, and tackle current technology issues that affect the internal audit profession. The event will offer a unique platform for members from around the world to connect with thought leaders and discover insights on matters pertaining to the profession. The customisable agenda will feature a variety of educational sessions for varying levels – from CAEs and heads of internal audit, to directors, managers and audit staff.

Dubai had an extremely strong presence at this year’s International Conference in Sydney, supported by the UAE Embassy in Australia, and the travelling delegation included:

·       Guest of Honour Matar Al Mansoori, UAE Counsellor to Australia, who received the international conference flag on behalf of the UAE

·       Abdulqader Obaid Ali, President of UAE IAA

·       Ayesha Bin Lootah, Deputy Director – Internal Audit, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketingand Board of Governors Member at the UAE IAA

·       Samia Al Yousuf, General Manager of UAE IAA

Matar Al Mansoori, UAE Counsellor to Australia, said:“International conferences play a crucial role in promoting the UAE to a global audience and attracting business interest in a broad range of sectors. As our economy diversifies and grows, events such as the IIA International Conference 2018 will continue put the spotlight on our competitive business environment and the opportunities in the UAE.

“The UAE’s representation here in Sydney and the official handover of this event to Dubai is another example of the strong and fruitful relationships we have internationally.”

Ayesha Bin Lootah, Deputy Director – Internal Audit, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai, and Board of Governors Member at the UAE IAA Board of Governance said:“We aim to see Dubai become the leading destination for international conferences and we are privileged to host the 2018 IIA International Conference in Dubai. The internal audit network is growing tremendously around the globe, and its significance is being increasingly recognised by government institutions and the private sector, including small, medium and larger corporations. The 2018 conference will shed light on current scenarios, trends and world class insight, while offering the opportunity for members to network.”

Abdulqader Obaid Ali, President of UAE IAA, said: “Having successfully bid for the 2018 IIA International Conference in partnership with key stakeholders in Dubai, preparations are already well underway to ensure the event is a success. We expect to break all previous records in terms of number of attendees, and the topics will emphasize the key dynamic changes in the environment considering cyber and technology threats.

“As an organisation, one of our key goals is to promote and contribute to the increased awareness of internal auditing in the region, and next year’s event will play a vital role in achieving this. We look forward to welcoming our peers from around the world to exchange knowledge and make sure the conference leaves a strong legacy.”

www.visitdubai.com

The award recognised Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre as the ‘Most Sustainable Exhibition and Conference Venue’ and ExCeL London as the ‘Venue of the Year’, confirming ADNEC Group’s growing industry recognition as an international venue developer that delivers consistently excellent facilities and services to events community.

Following a record number of entries, the judging process was managed by an independent organisation and finalists were decided by a panel of 38 judges. The sustainability category witnessed steep competition between 7 centers and organisers including RAI Amsterdam, Business Design Centre, UBM, Global Experience Services (GES), the Crystal, among others. The finalists in best venue category included AEG the O2, RAI Amsterdam, the NEC, Scottish Events Campus, Olymia London, among others.

Her Excellency Noura Mohammad Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairwoman of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, said: “It is a great honour to win this prestigious and internationally-acclaimed recognition from Association of Event Organisers (AEO). The awards validate our innovative strategies and forward-thinking practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of our state-of-the-art venues and exceptional quality of services.”

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO, ADNEC, said: “This latest recognition is a testimony to our continued success in developing advanced event infrastructure and providing excellent services. It is an outcome of our collective efforts to deliver the very best experience possible to our customers and will motivate us to strive for even higher standards in the future.” 

The AEO Awards recognizes the best that the global events industry has to offer, celebrating organisers’ achievements, venue excellence and service quality. The Association of Event Organisers Ltd (AEO) is the trade body representing companies which conceive, create, develop or manage trade and consumer events. It was established in 1981, and run through an elected council of representatives, specialist working groups and a fulltime secretariat.

www.aeo.org.uk

www.adnecgroup.ae

This was another decade of great success for the association meetings sector. ICCA captured 12,212 rotating international association meetings taking place worldwide in 2016, which is clearly an all-time record for ICCA’s annual snapshot of immediate past year’s meetings data.

More than five decades of doubling every ten years
Globally, the number of association meetings has doubled in a decade: from just under 6,000 in 2006 to over 12,000 in 2016. This means that the trend of exponential growth, as identified in ICCA’s advocacy report “A modern history of international association meetings: 1963-2013”, published at ICCA’s 50-year anniversary in 2013 (available on www.icca50.com), continues to apply: The number of association meetings continues to double every decade.

Middle East fastest growing region
The market share of the Middle East region has grown even quicker: from 100 to 255 in a decade. This growth of over 250% is the largest for any region in the world. The estimated total number of participants in the Middle East has grown from just of 100,000 in 2007 to an average of almost 200,000 in the last 5 years. Most meetings were about medical sciences and technology. The amount of technological meeting is higher than in other parts of the world. ICCA opened its first first part-time Regional Office in the Middle East in 2013 and has deployed numerous activities to advance the association meetings market in the region.

ICCA CEO Martin Sirk said: "This trends helps illustrate why ICCA took the strategic decision to open up a full-time Regional Office in Dubai at the start of 2016.  The association sector is taking off in the Middle East, driven by growth in an educated, professional middle class, a desire for professional education, standards and accreditations, and an understanding by international associations that this is a market of great long-term potential, both for growth in membership and for building business for their members based outside the region."

ICCA Regional Director Senthil Gopinath added: "We are particularly delighted to be partnering with Dubai Association Centre in the first Dubai Association Conference taking place 11-12 December this year, which is designed to build association capacity and awareness across the region. Over the last twelve months some of my most popular programmes for ICCA members have been seminars on bidding for association meetings, and how to set up and operate effective congress "ambassador programmes", where local doctors and business leaders are encouraged and assisted to lead these bids. The association meetings sector is entering a new and exciting phase in this region, for both suppliers and organisers."

www.iccaworld.org

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been investing significantly in reinforcing its infrastructure and transforming and developing the meetings industry within the country to welcome meetings and business events. It now has more than 600 first class hotels, convention and event facilities and nearly all leading international hotel groups have properties in the major cities.

This will be clearly seen at IMEX in Frankfurt 2017 where the Saudi Exhibition and Convention Bureau is exhibiting for the first time, with many Saudi successful event organising companies  marketing their meetings and events facilities and services.

Currently public investment in the meetings industry in Saudi Arabia up to 2020 is estimated at

6 billion Saudi Riyals (US $1.6billion). These investments include establishing five major convention districts - King Salman International Conference Center in Madinah; King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, at the King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, the King Abdullah Economic City and at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, to be completed within the next five years. These are in addition to private sector investments in the industry, represented by hotels with exhibition and conference facilities all over the Kingdom.

Vision 2030

The investment is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, announced in April 2016, an ambitious but achievable blueprint which expresses long-term goals and reflects the country’s strengths and capabilities.

Vision 2030 is to position Saudi Arabia as a global investment powerhouse and a global hub connecting three continents, Asia, Europe and Africa, capitalising on its status as the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds and its unique geographic strategic location. Vision 2030 also aims to reinforce and diversify the capabilities of the country’s economy. As such, it will transform the economy away from a dependence on oil production into a industrial conglomerate and transform the Public Investment Fund into the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. Hosting business events is one of the focal points of the reforms, along with leisure and religious tourism, all means to generate both revenue and employment.

Business events comes under the National Transformation Plan, the centrepiece of Vision 2030, which consists of 755 initiatives costing $100 billion dollars between 2016 and 2020. 

HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) and chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Saudi Exhibition & Conference Bureau (SECB), has said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will become one of the key destinations in the Meetings industry.

Established in 2013, the Saudi Exhibition and Convention Bureau was created with a mandate to develop the meetings industry.  Eng.Tariq A. Al Essa, Executive Director of Saudi Exhibition and Convention Bureau explains what the Bureau is doing and how it is making progress.

“We are a government organisation responsible for developing and organising the meetings industry in Saudi Arabia. The government recognised the importance of the meetings industry and it approved a development strategy. The SECB is operated differently to other bureaus around the world. Our mandate is not only promotion; it is also the development of the industry.

• Overcoming obstacles

“As a first step, we identified the major obstacles to the industry’s growth, including regulatory framework, accessibility, infrastructure capacity, human resources, and the non-availability of information about meetings and events that are being organised".

“To deal with the matter of visas, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to smooth the process to obtain visas for speakers and exhibitors. Visitors, speakers, or exhibitors will apply through an e-system and will receive their visa online.

• Long heritage in hosting meetings

“Saudi Arabia has a heritage in hosting meetings going back more than 2000 years. Our country has been staging one of the oldest meetings in the world, Okaz, originally an annual convention of Arab poets and of course we have 1437 years of experience in hosting the largest and most complex meeting in the planet - the 'Hajj'. In 2016 more than 1.9 million international delegates from 163 countries took part in this meeting.

• Knowledge economy

“Although Saudi Arabia is starting to pitch for international association meetings, it is also very keen to create unique and sustainable business events based on its strengths, competitive  advantage and the needs of the national economy.

“There are plenty of opportunities for many sectors in Saudi Arabia. We are number one in the world for water desalination and water treatment, and obviously oil, power, petrochemicals, and Islamic finance. This gives the country an opportunity to host business events in these sectors which will positively enhance the economy and society. Our vision is to convert Saudi Arabia into a major destination for meetings in the world, which we can be.

“We started from strengthening this idea at a local level and we will gradually extend our campaign to regional and international level. We have spent time characterising Saudi companies to highlight the importance of meeting, discussing, and exchanging opinions, views, and technologies. We also developed the “ambassador programme” with the aim of selecting and training a number of Saudi medical professionals and scientific associations and federations who will be in charge of contacting international associations to discuss partnership opportunities for hosting events in our country." This will strongly enhance the image of Saudi Arabia as a meeting hub in the region and worldwide, and will make a positive contribution to the tourism sector.

• Measuring economic impact

“In addition, to measure the economic impact of the meeting industry in Saudi Arabia and demonstrate the value of the investment we aim to provide information and statistics. We have created an electronic gate – a SAR12 million project that is at the heart of the Saudi meetings industry. All operations and events happening in Saudi Arabia are reported in this e-system.

“The gate is unique in the world, and it provides up-to-date data to assist business professionals from all around the world not only to understand the behaviour of the meetings industry, but the behaviour of all economic sectors in Saudi Arabia.

 “Collaborating with other stakeholders is of crucial importance to us, not just for the industry but for the growth of the whole country, in relation to human resources. We want Saudi people to play a key role in the industry. We approached universities and other institutes, and right now some of them offer courses in event management. A recent study conducted by the Saudi Ministry of Labour revealed that Saudi graduate students selected "event manager" as one of the jobs they are most keen to do.

“We have also secured the involvement of investors in the creation of the Saudi Event Management Academy (SEMA), which is the first step in our bid to fill the gap between Saudi’s human resources and the competencies that the industry requires. The academy is unique in the Middle East region.

“Saudi Arabia is the heart of the Arabic and Islamic worlds, it is a pioneering investment powerhouse and the hub connecting three continents. We arecreating an environment for successful meetings and exhibitions that will attract business in events and investments.”

www.secb.gov.sa

With the patented GENiusTM  the world’s most energy-efficient Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) module of its kind, Water-Gen’s various water generator models can serve the water needs from a small house to whole villages to an entire country. By generating the water directly from the air, Water-Gen has developed an independent, innovative and autonomous solution. It is a plug and drink solution, requiring only electricity and no infrastructure. A healthy, quick and easy solution that aims to benefit every community and all humanity.  

In early March, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that tainted water is one of the environmental factors causing death to 1.7 million children during their first five years. The report entitled, “Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children’s Health and the Environment,” concluded that the most common causes of death among these children are diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia, all preventable in part by access to safe water.

In addition to its AWG line of products, which may also be powered by solar energy, WaterGen has also developed portable water filtration solutions, designed to handle emergencies and benefit victims in relief efforts, including a lightweight, battery energy operated filtration system for contaminated water resources, called the “spring" Senior governmental officials and international military bodies, including the Israel Defenses Forces, are keen on utilizing Water-Gen's expertise with emergency and rescue devices to handle emergencies and with save and rescue missions.

Across the United States, contaminated water is an almost weekly headline. Water-Gen is already speaking with officials on the federal, and state levels to set up preventative measures against contaminated water resources. The company is properly positioned to provide effective outcomes in California, Flint, Michigan, and other U.S. states where Water-Gen may provide an alternative solution for clean drinking water. This coming April, 2017, Water-Gen is launching its first pilot study in Miami-Dade County, Florida, which will be analyzed as a prototype for additional U.S. locations. 

For every community size, Water-Gen has the ability to help. The Large Scale Water Generators can potentially service billions around the world, including whole cities, villages, schools, and hospitals. The GEN-350G Medium Scale Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) was awarded the "Atmospheric Water Generation for Forward Operating Base" CCD Contract with the UK Ministry of Defense. The Genny, the Water from Air Home Appliance, is a quick plug and drink solution which makes it ideal for homes and offices with a quick and easy installation. 

Executive Chairman of Water-Gen, Maxim Pasik said "Water-Gen will continue to make great strides in changing people's lives for the better, and we extend our commitment to work with all international governments to ensure that every human being has access to clean drinking water."

The Dubai Association Centre (DAC), a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), in collaboration with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has announced the launch of the first-ever Dubai Association Conference which will be held 11-12 December 2017, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, a first of its kind in the region, reinforces the crucial role associations play in Dubai’s socio-economic development and its transition to a knowledge-based economy. The announcement was made at the prestigious Associations World Congress that is currently underway in Vienna, Austria.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “It is undeniable that trade and professional associations play a key role in driving social integration, competitiveness, and knowledge sharing, and therefore support in the development of a knowledge economy.

“As associations look to expand their footprint around the world, our aim is for Dubai to be at the top of their list. We are confident that the Dubai Association Conference will greatly support our efforts in welcoming more associations to Dubai, offering an opportunity to experience first-hand the emirate’s innovative and cutting-edge knowledge and expertise that is available for each to tap into. This conference will also help us continue to position Dubai as a premier host city for business events, reflecting our ambition in discovering solutions to worldwide challenges, the diversity of our economy, and our keenness to collaborate.”

Hassan Al Hashemi, Member of the Executive Committee of DAC and Vice President of International Relations, Dubai Chamber, said: “We are delighted to be launching this premier international event in Dubai as it will strengthen the emirate’s position as the leading centre for professional associations in the Middle East and North Africa region. The conference will serve as an ideal platform for attracting associations from around the world to Dubai, which will ultimately improve the competitiveness of its business community, and contribute toward the emirate’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.”

Al Hashemi explained that the event will also support objectives outlined under Dubai Chamber’s 2017-2021 strategy, including its aim to boost the emirate’s global profile as a preferred hub for trade and investment. He added that the Dubai Association Centre has already achieved considerable progress since it was launched as it saw a 100% year-on-year increase in the number of associations registered in Dubai during 2016, while it has also established its reputation by participating in international conferences.

The Dubai Association Conference will welcome association executives from regional and international associations, government representatives, university faculties and students as well as other professionals with an interest in developing associations.

The inaugural Conference, under the theme of ‘Building a Community’, is designed to cater to an increasing number of associations that are looking to expand within the Middle East, and the growing industries across disciplines from technology and healthcare to education and finance. It will also provide a platform to gain insights from international and regional experts on the latest trends in areas such as membership, online communities, restructuring education, volunteerism and governance, among others.

Over the course of two days, the conference will go beyond traditional methods of education to focus largely on collaboration and engagement within key industries across the region. It will also facilitate engaging and thought-provoking sessions that offer an exclusive opportunity for key opinion leaders and association executives to engage in discussions aimed at exploring and nurturing new partnerships and relevant opportunities arising between associations, government, academia, and the private sector. The event’s strategic partners will include PCMA, ASAE, ICCA, The Global Association Hubs Partnership and MCI.

Ahmed Alkhaja, Senior Vice President – Venues, Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “The inaugural Dubai Association Conference, hosted at DWTC, is set to serve as a distinct platform to support the growth and development of local and global associations regionally. This will be achieved by connecting industry professionals, facilitating discussions and knowledge sharing, helping to create new associations and supporting the expansion of established ones in the region. Furthermore, the highly-anticipated conference helps to reaffirm Dubai’s role as a leading business gateway that leverages a coordinated approach to bringing associations and conferences to the country with the aim of connecting people across a diverse range of interests.”

DAC has been established in response to the surge in the demand for association engagement in the UAE and the Middle East. It offers assistance for the establishment of non-profit, apolitical, and non-religious professional associations and trade bodies in the Emirate of Dubai. Its main objective is to become a platform for dialogue and education for associations interested in exploring opportunities in the Middle East Region and to ultimately contribute to building an association community that drives the knowledge economy in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Arabian Peninsula.

www.dubaiassociationconference.com

Hosted by Dubai-based IAPCO member company Meeting Minds Experts, and supported by Dubai Business Events (DBE), this landmark event celebrated the highest recorded attendance for an IAPCO Annual Meeting taking place outside of Europe, with 115 delegates from over 30 countries participating. The meeting took place from February 16-19, at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights.

Dubai is the first city in the GCC region to host the IAPCO meeting and General Assembly, now in its 48th year. The successful event was themed around ‘Leading the Future, Creating Opportunities’, and over the course of three days, industry leading lights took to the stage to discuss both the opportunities and the challenges facing the modern conference and convention industry.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “We are extremely honoured for the opportunity to host an event of such a calibre and welcome members of IAPCO to the city we fondly call home. This further strengthens Dubai’s profile as a premier international business event destination and highlights the emirate’s diversified offering–comprising global connectivity, state-of-the-art facilities, first-class infrastructure, and great hospitality–to key stakeholders who shape the business events industry. As our reputation of being a dynamic host city for business events grows, we anticipate further growth in the number of visitors to the emirate in line with Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 and the UAE Vision 2021.

” The IAPCO 2017 programme was packed with inspiring and informative keynotes, lively debate sessions, a destination teamwork challenge and the Driving Excellence Awards Ceremony celebrating the achievements of IAPCO members. Of course, there were plenty of opportunities for networking, as well as treating guests to Arabia’s famous hospitality with a desert Bedouin experience and other social occasions with a local flavour.

"Commenting on the meeting, Jan Tonkin, said: “This year’s annual meeting and general assembly offered a unique platform to discuss the all-important quality standards we strive to achieve globally, and to network with other like-minded partners in an environment that is more than collegial. Attendees were made privy to best practice in addition to witnessing outstanding presentations from experts who stimulated each to think differently.”

www.iapco.org

info@iapco.org

The event, which took place at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai, brought together over 200 ambassadors, including prominent doctors, scientists, businessmen and government officials from across the Emirate. The event paid tribute to 45 high-profile individuals and organisations for their outstanding performance in attracting and hosting international conferences and business events in Dubai, championing the city’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry and fortifying its position as a premier business events destination.

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), said: “We are extremely pleased to be hosting this event again to honour the Al Safeer programme ambassadors who share our vision to drive global knowledge exchange and foster thought leadership. We have seen great results from the programme and are confident that it will help us to continue to position Dubai as a premier host city for international conferences and events. As Dubai and the UAE transition towards a knowledge economy, international meetings and events play a vital role in demonstrating the scale of our ambition in finding solutions to worldwide challenges, the diversity of our economy, and our keenness to collaborate.”

During the event, DBE reflected on a year of success and growth for the business events industry, providing an update on key highlights from 2016, outlining the bureau’s plans of attracting and hosting international conferences in Dubai in 2017 and highlighting the key role that the Al Safeer Programme ambassadors play.

Commenting on the event, Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events, added: “The Al Safeer Programme consists of a powerful network of inspiring individuals, both UAE Nationals and expatriates working in Dubai, who are advocates for Dubai’s business events industry. The programme galvanises their competencies and allows them to leverage the impartial services provided by DBE to bid for and ultimately bring the full spectrum of business events in their field to Dubai. This has enabled us to drive the growth of business tourism in Dubai and maintain its position as a top conference destination on a global scale.”

Translating to ‘The Ambassador’, the Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors Programme was established by DBE in 2010 with the aim to engage Dubai based scientists, business professionals and organizations and tap on their expertise and connections to identify and attract conferences and meetings to Dubai. Al Safeer Ambassadors range from pioneering subject matter experts and leading academics to innovative surgeons and prominent people in UAE business who are committed to driving awareness about Dubai as a thriving business events destination and global knowledge hub.

In 2016, the Programme recruited over 200 new ambassadors, increasing the network to over 350 industry leaders, professionals from various fields and sectors. Through the network members’ relations to international institutions and associations, DBE assisted with and managed 52 bids for international conferences, of which 25 were won. Notable wins included Congress of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Annual Congress 2017, World Congress of Cardiology 2018 and World Down Syndrome Congress 2020. 

www.visitdubai.com

To be really honest, Qatar in general, and Doha in particular, were not destinations where, as a meetings journalist, I really wanted to go. Reports on the FIFA World Cup 2022 having been ‘bought out’ and legions of poor labour workers suffering in the scorching heat didn’t not sound very attractive to say the least. When I travelled early September for a brief press trip at the invitation of Qatar Tourism Authority, I was surprised to discover a place with a vision, a destination with a strong strategy towards business events, both traditional and very open to the world.

Rémi Dévé reports

Cranes everywhere

First an impression. With construction sites, cranes and visible high-end developments everywhere you go, Qatar is on the verge of becoming a major player in the meetings industry. It starts when you land at the state-of-the-art, brand-new Hamad International Airport, complete with a 50 million passenger traffic capacity, and doesn’t stop until you go dune bashing! Simply put, it is a bit crazy: there are countless meeting options popping up everywhere, from the awe-inspiring Museum of Islamic Arts to the new kid on the block, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center; there should be an additional 70 hotels in the years leading to the World Cup, and there is also the 300-kilometre-long Doha Metro project…

It might well be only the beginning. Indeed, Qatar has a vision. If today they may still rely on oil and natural gas to fuel a growing economy, the ultimate aim is to tranform it into a knowledge-based economy, with a strong position as an education and sporting hub in the Gulf. As a spokeperson at Qatar Tourism Authority explains: “The MICE industry is aligned with other sectors in Qatar that the country’s leadership has identified as national priorities. The Qatar National Vision 2030 prioritises education, environment, construction, sports and, naturally, oil and gas, which is why Qatar tends to host a high concentration of events in these fields.”

The epitome of this might well be Education City, which I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of. Home to Doha’s most high-profile academic and research institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar or Northwestern University in Qatar, just to name a few, it is a huge area which is instrumental in making Doha a centre of excellence.  The iconic Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), opened in 2011 in the shadow of its impressive Sidra tree, is part of Education City, and boasts a hall for up to 4,000 people, a 2,300-seat theatre, 3 auditoria, 52 meeting rooms, and, last but not least, 40,000 sqm of exhibition space across 9 halls.

Venue highlights

Of course during my way too short visit, I could visit only but a few of the places Doha boasts so people can meet and/or which delegates can enjoy after a hard day’s work at a conference. Below are my personal highlights.

In addition to the above-mentioned QNCC, Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) opened its doors last year in the city’s financial district, and was designed as a blank canvas for event organisers. One of the key features of its main 29,000sqm hall is a lack of columns, giving conference planners more flexibility. There are also 18 meeting rooms available split across four self-contained suites for up to 195 people, and no less than 9 five-star hotels at walking distance. Who could ask for more?

Speaking of accommodation, you would think that Qatar only caters to the rich and famous, but not at all! There are facilities for everyone. I stayed at Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park, your straight forward business hotel, but with a twist: in addition to 14 meetings rooms, its centrally located, globe-shaped Event Center has 3 ballrooms capable of accommodating up to 800 guests. On the other hand, at 300m high and with 360° panoramic views across the whole of Doha, The Torch Doha is like nothing I’ve seen before: for sports enthusiasts and business delegates alike, it’s equipped with iPad in-room solutions and boasts meeting spaces for up to 300 people.

The Sheraton Grand Doha was recently restored to its former glory – it is the very first conference hotel in the city and was built in 1982. Set amidst 70 acres of an oasis-like resort, it boasts more than 3,000 sqm of space hosting up to 9,000 guests. Last but not least is Marsa Malaz Kempinski, which screams opulence, luxury and excellent service. Located on its own secluded island, The Pearl, it will impress the most demanding visitors with its 281 luxury rooms, including 69 suites, two Presidential Suites and two Royal Suites. In terms of meetings, it features a superior conference centre spanning 1,100 sqm including two ballrooms and six more intimate meeting rooms.

Contact

Business Events Department

Qatar Tourism Authority

T. +974 44997499

businessevents@visitqatar.qa

www.visitqatar.qa

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Emirates Medical Association (EMA) and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) in a landmark initiative that is set to further establish Abu Dhabi as a thriving international medical meetings hub.

The MoU aims to increase the number of international medical conferences hosted in Abu Dhabi, and foster a collaborative environment of lucrative and productive educational opportunities for medical practitioners throughout the region.

“This agreement is conducive to Abu Dhabi’s role as a primary destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions throughout the region,” said HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, TCA Abu Dhabi Director General.

“The partnership will allow us to continue to advance our strategic objective in promoting Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for high quality healthcare services, knowledge and events alongside our valued colleagues, enhancing our established reputation as a global knowledge hub,” he added.

The agreement will herald a new wave of opportunities for international events hosted within the emirate.

“In partnering with Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and the Emirates Medical Association, ADNEC seeks to increase the number of scientific and medical conferences to grow the direct and indirect impact from business tourism on the economy of Abu Dhabi. The benefits to Abu Dhabi extend beyond economic impact however, as there will be an increased exposure to global thought leaders thereby helping the emirate emerge as a knowledge hub in healthcare sector. In addition this initiative will enhance the opportunity to showcase the investment and advances in healthcare in Abu Dhabi,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Acting Group CEO, ADNEC.

“We also aim to leverage our state-of-the-art infrastructure and expansive facilities to bring knowledge and technology to Abu Dhabi and in doing so, we will continue to contribute to the long-term revenue growth of the Abu Dhabi Governmentthrough facilitating further expansion in the specialised conferences and congress sector,” he added.

The memorandum will ensure that medical experts in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE are well informed of the opportunities and support networks available for their industry.

Dr Mouza Al Sharhan, President of the Emirates Medical Association said: “This MOU is a winning proposition for the three parties and will also have a positive impact on UAE’s economy. We are delighted to have forged partnership with ADNEC and Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, and together we will play a part in growing the UAE’s role as a knowledge hub, developing Abu Dhabi as a destination in the world by attracting the international, regional and local medical conferences. The UAE is already a top destination in the Middle East for quality healthcare services. When high-profile international health-related congresses are hosted here local practitioners get unprecedented access to the top professionals and latest developments in their field.”

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau drives the emirate's business events objectives. The bureau is a dedicated, one-stop entity which supports the growth of exhibitions, conferences, meetings and incentives within the emirate by forging closer links with the industry and providing administrative support to these partnerships.

TBEX, the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers, online travel journalists, new media content creators, travel brands and industry professionals will be held on March 20-22nd, 2017 in Jerusalem.

Each year, TBEX partners with host destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry’s most creative minds together to learn, network and do business.

“Jerusalem was chosen as our first TBEX International destination because of its rich multi-cultural history,” says Patti Hosking, TBEX Vice President. “Geographically in Asia, but more economically and culturally aligned with Europe, Jerusalem is one of those special destinations that defies classification and is best explained as International."

Registration is now open for TBEX International 2017 in Jerusalem. 

For more information: http://tbexcon.com/2017-International/registration/

In November last year, the United Arab Emirates announced the adoption of the UAE Science, Technology and Innovation Higher Policy, which includes 100 national initiatives in the education, health, energy, transportation, space, technology and water sectors.

Rémi Dévé reports

The plan is a strategic decision that aims to change the national economy equation to drive it away from depending on limited oil resources. Its goal is to build a vibrant knowledge based economy in the UAE in general and in Dubai in particular, to establish it as a Smart City, with technology at the forefront.

Sustainable Wealth

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan put it like this: "Creating sustainable wealth for the coming generation will depend on science, knowledge, technology and innovation. The Science, Technology and Innovation Higher Policy is a turning point in our journey to develop the UAE economically and socially."

And Dubai wasted no time to make progress in the technology sector. Recent investments include:

• 3D printing technology: Dubai wants to lead the world in 3D printing. With a strong focus on construction, medical and consumer products, the UAE foresees that 25 percent of their buildings will be based on 3D printing technology by 2030, along with a substantial rise in the 3D printing of household goods, jewelry—and even fast food. Dubai will also set up a new 3D printed lab space to be added to a huge solar park, and inaugurated the first 3D printed office building in May.
• Driverless transportation: by 2030, 25 per cent of all transportation trips in Dubai will be smart and driverless, which comes as part of Dubai's strategy to become the smartest city in the world and achieve a sustainable economy in the UAE. The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy is expected to generate economic revenues and savings of up to Dh22bn.

GITEX in Dubai

Of course, events play a very specific role showcasing these advancements and the emirate’s vision. Later this year, Dubai will host, at Dubai World Trade Centre, the GITEX Technology Week, the widely recognised and annually anticipated ICT trade event across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. GITEX identifies the hottest global trends in the tech industry and integrates them into new event sectors or conference programmes, with top international brands and local tech leaders launching cutting-edge products, gadgets, and services– all of which are areas Dubai is heavily interested in making progress.

To learn more about how to access services related to business event development, destination expertise, convention planning, attendance building and onsite event servicing, visit dubaibusinessevents.ae, call +971 600 55 5559 or email askdbe@dubaitourism.ae

Four international medical conferences will be held in September through December 2016 and early in 2017 at the International Conference Center – Binyanei Hauma Jerusalem: the 13th International Congress of Neuroimmunology, the International Association for Dental Research/Pan-European Congress, the World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, the World Allergy Organization (WAO) International Scientific Conference (WISC) and the International Congress of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

This series of conferences has put Jerusalem on the map of international medicine and marks a real turning point in conference tourism.

About 50 decision-makers and the key people in the global conference industry were hosted at the International Conference Center – Binyanei Hauma and were impressed by its size and spaciousness and its extensive experience in the hosting of significant international events.

According to Mira Altman, CEO of the International Conference Center – Binyanei Hauma: “We have positive momentum. Last week, I met with 50 decision-makers and key people in the world conference industry. This important group was invited to Israel by the Jerusalem Conventions & Visitors Bureau to promote the Israeli conference industry. The group included representatives from the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Japan, India, South Korea, Kenya, South Africa, Italy, Austria, Spain, France, Germany, Greece, Turkey and Russia. This is a very important activity for the Jerusalem Conventions & Visitors Bureau. Happily, after many years of our involvement, and the formulation of a joint strategy with the Jerusalem Development Authority to establish a bureau in Jerusalem, it has been set up under the management of Ilanit Melchior. The visit gave us exposure to key decision-makers and will enhance our marketing efforts on the world conference map so that we can host large global conferences."

Ms. Altman added: "Regrettably, we are far from realizing our potential in the field of international conferences. According to data from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), a world body that collects information related to international conferences, Singapore and afterward Seoul haven taken first place over the last several years among the cities of Asia and the Middle East in the hosting of international conferences.  Jerusalem is ranked only in the 4th decile.”

Ilanit Melchior, in charge of tourism at the Jerusalem Development Authority noted that: "Members of the group represent leading global conference organizations and associations. I'm optimistic. From my standpoint this is only the first stage in the work of the Jerusalem Conventions & Visitors Bureau.”

The conference industry has a broad economic contribution to make. On average, income in Israel from the hosting of a single international conference with 1000 participants is about NIS 12 million. This revenue is divided among lodging facilities, transport and travel, gifts and shopping, and entertainment activities.

www.iccjer.co.il

Building up a knowledge economy and reducing their reliance on oil and gas is one of the aims for the UAE, as they embark on a journey and start investing heavily in ICT. In Dubai, the Dubai Smart City initiative has been launched to transform the emirate into a leading global smart city over the next few years.

Text Rémi Dévé

The ability to manage rapid urbanization is critical. Cities must increase the efficiency of existing and new infrastructure and services to a level never previously achieved. This requires a step change in the integration of infrastructure management and operations. Today, the quality of life of city residents is influenced by the degree of smartness and user-friendliness of the various services that a city provides. Technology plays a major role in achieving this smartness and efficiency.

Higher Quality of Life

As smartphones become more ubiquitous and technology rapidly changes one’s lives, Dubai is marching towards the next level of improvement and embracing a higher quality of life. The smart city project has been conceptualized under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and General Supervisor of the Dubai smart city project.

Dubai’s smart city strategy includes over 100 initiatives and a plan to transform 1,000 government services into smart services. The project aims to encourage collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve targets in six ‘smart’ focus areas: smart life, smart transportation, smart society, smart economy, smart governance and smart environment. The strategy relies on three basic principles: communication, integration and cooperation.

Unprecedented Partnership

His Highness Sheikh Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai put it like this: “Our country is today ushering into a new era for the improvement and development of quality of life through this gigantic project which got underway through an unprecedented public-private partnership to make a new reality for all and change the concept of city which the human being lives in so as to live with him through his smart phone and who will be its key pivot.”

Dubai’s initiatives will embrace innovation, and make the city more efficient, seamless, safe, as well as it will deliver an enriched city experience through smart technology.  Everything will be brought together on a single connected, integrated and collaborative smart city platform, with input from the government agencies, businesses and Dubai’s citizens.

To learn more about how to access services related to business event development, destination expertise, convention planning, attendance building and onsite event servicing, visit dubaibusinessevents.ae, call +971 600 55 5559 or email askdbe@dubaitourism.ae

The inaugural edition of Middle East Association Congress (MEAC) kicked off at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) last week converging leading regional and international association leaders and experts.

Held under the slogan “Creating Opportunities, Associations and Beyond”, the event includes a number of panel sessions, education seminars and networking opportunities, drawing a strong participation by association leaders from the GCC, Middle East, America and Europe.

MEAC is designed to provide an international platform for association leaders, leaders of chapters of global associations and industry partners to share knowledge and information on opportunities to enhance the profile of the association sector in the region. The event is organised by CIMGlobal, the organiser of many major association congresses in the South Asian region and supported by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau (Abu Dhabi – CB).

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Acting Group CEO of ADNEC, said: “ADNEC is delighted to host the first edition of MEAC that supports our strategy to increase the number of association conferences coming to the emirate. In addition to promoting the emirate’s burgeoning MICE credentials, in participating in the event, we also seek to network with key decision makers in the global association industry. The event also provides us with a unique platform to showcase Abu Dhabi’s advanced conference and meetings event facilities to the global influencers attending the event,” he added.

Robin Miller, Director of Sales – Conferences and Events at ADNEC said: “MEAC serves us an important opportunity for regional and international professionals in association industry to build relations, develop businesses and share knowledge by attending intensive educational sessions and networking programmes. Hosting such key industry events at ADNEC helps us enhance the emirate’s status as a leading knowledge hub in conferences and congresses sector. By attracting more international conferences and congresses to our venues, we will be able to play a bigger in the international meetings and congresses industry.”

ADNEC is hosting MEAC in line with its new strategy to promote the specialised conferences and association sector due to its significant impact on the economy, while boosting Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as the knowledge capital of the UAE.

International association leaders and experts from the industry are hosting sessions to impart global best practices to audiences. The event is strongly supported by the global industry organizations in the association’s community, including the American Society of Association Executives creating a platform of knowledge for the association community in the region to benefit from.

ADNEC offers 133,000 sq m of inter-connected floor space to match the expectations of a wide variety of events and exhibitions. Equipped with modern facilities and built to international standards, the venue attracted 1.8 million people across 369 events in 2015.

www.adnec.ae

According to the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage, the number of exhibitions and conferences in Saudi Arabia during 2016 is expected to increase by about 20%.

The executive director of the conference and exhibitions national program, Tarek Al-Essa, named several reasons for the positive forecast of the government: “There are several factors that strengthen the possibility of development of MICE tourism in Saudi Arabia such as the plan of the government to diversify the economic base, invest more in the sector, and further develop the national program of conferences and exhibitions. The aim is to stimulate the MICE sector in the kingdom… The vision of the government is that Saudi Arabia will become the main destination for conferences and exhibitions in the Middle East by 2020.”

The government’s investment in the MICE tourism industry for the coming years until 2019 amounts to USD1.6 billion. Several centres and venues will benefit from the financial boost. One of them is the new King Salman International Conference Center in Medina, which is planned to open before the end of this year.

Another venue is the centre for conferences and exhibitions in the International Airport of the King Khalid in Riyadh, which should open by 2020. 

The national program of conferences and exhibitions issued licenses to nearly 7,900 events during 2015. According to the official statistics, there were about 4 million visitors at these events, including conferences, forums, meetings, seminars and workshops, and representing an increase of 23% compared to 2014. Over the last two years, nearly 700 companies started offering their services as event organizers. Currently, there are 3,100 such businesses in the kingdom.

Mohammed Al-Hussieny, the vice chairman of the Conferences & Exhibitions Sector National Committee said that there are several reasons to believe that the MICE tourism sector is set for growth: “One of the benefits is the beneficial location of Saudi Arabia and the fact that the kingdom is one of the largest regional economies. Moreover, the kingdom attracts the event organizers with its amenities including modern facilities and infrastructure. It is also characterized by its variant geographical topography ranging from deserts to beaches”.

According to Al-Hussieny, MICE tourism in Saudi Arabia could generate huge revenues which will contribute to the GDP and become the key driver of the national economy.

Dubai Business Events (DBE), Dubai’s official convention bureau, ended 2015 on a high note, with a significant increase in the number of international meetings, conferences and incentives that were both bid for and brought in to Dubai.

Last year marked a record number of bids and proposals submitted by DBE, totalling nearly 250, of which 75 were won. Some of the most notable wins include welcoming back the NuSkin South East Asia Incentive group in 2017 and hosting the World Tunnelling Congress in 2018, the World Congress of Neurology in 2019 and the World Congress of Emergency Medicine in 2021. In addition, there are a further 100+ conferences in the pipeline which DBE expects to bid for through its Al Safeer Congress Ambassador programme. Through these and many more exciting initiatives under way, DBE’s ambition of growing the emirate into a global knowledge hub through hosting meetings and conferences is steadily being realised.

In 2015, Dubai was proud to host international exhibitions and events including the 23^rd Congress of the International Academy of Legal Medicine, the World Free Zone Organisation Congress, the 2015 Dragon Insurance Conference, the IDA Life Insurance Congress, the Jeunesse Global Incentive group and the Airport Traffic Control Conference.

Dubai currently ranks 44th in the 2014 International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) World Rankings – up from 63rd place in 2013, and DBE has the mandate to continue to establish the city as a premier business events destination. By doing so the division of Dubai Tourism is contributing to the emirate’s Tourism Vision for 2020, which aims to double the number of visitors to the emirate from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million per year by 2020. To that end, DBE is working to grow the emirate into a global knowledge hub by showcasing Dubai’s diverse offering across sectors including healthcare, energy, financial services and aviation.

The year was led by solid performance in showcasing Dubai at the city’s dynamic business events offerings. In partnership with Emirates Airlines, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the ever evolving hotel sector and local destination management companies, DBE hosted more than 550 international meeting and conference organisers across 11 study missions to Dubai, including 20 delegates from Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) at the 2015 Dubai Meetings Forum in December. Reflecting on a year of growth and success, DBE also strengthened its strategic partnerships with the likes of Dubai Health Authority, Emirates Medical Association and local universities.

Hamad Bin Mejren, Senior Vice President, Dubai Events and Convention Bureau, a Division of Dubai Tourism, said: “The combined efforts of DBE and its strategic partners, and the many initiatives we rolled out over the past 12 months allowed us to leave a strong footprint on international markets. Dubai recorded 14.2 million overnight visitors in 2015 which marks a 7.5% increase over 2014. As we look ahead to 2016 we are confident that we will continue to build momentum towards achieving our commitment to grow the city’s dynamic business events offering.”

2015 signalled a year of growth for not only DBE, but also its partners, including DWTC, Emirates, Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai’s hotel sector and the Dubai Association Centre (DAC), further evolving Dubai’s business destination offering. Among many exciting developments, DWTC’s announcement to build a 15,500 square metre extension, which will increase exhibition capacity to over 122,000 square metres, stands out as a key growth driver for Dubai’s events industry.

DXB was also named Airport of the Year at the 2015 Aviation Business Awards, while Emirates continued to add new routes to its flight network, making the city even more accessible to travellers from around the world. Further enhancing ease of travel to the city, 46 nations can now apply for a ‘visa-on-arrival’. The city’s ever evolving hotel sector, meanwhile, ended the year with high occupancy rates despite continuing to increase capacity, predominantly among three- and four-star properties, with the total number of rooms expected to reach 100,000 in early 2016.

DAC, established by DBE in 2014, also made remarkable progress in fostering global collaboration, and announced the launch of the Global Association Hubs Partnership together with Destination DC, Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau and visit Brussels. Fifty-six per cent of global multinationals currently have a presence in Dubai, and this latest initiative will help grow the international associations space in the city and better serve overseas members by using partner cites and regional contacts to expand global efforts. 

Hamad Bin Mejren concluded: “2015 has undoubtedly been a year of growth and success and we’ve made remarkable progress in cementing Dubai’s strong international reputation as a vibrant and diverse destination with great accessibility, first-class infrastructure and a dynamic business events offering. We will continue to showcase the city and push the boundaries on the experiences available for visitors, building on the momentum of the UAE’s Year of Innovation to fully unleash the potential Dubai has in becoming a global knowledge hub, demonstrating the expertise and diverse industries that make up our city.” 

www.visitdubai.com

More than 1,500 people and investors from around the world came to OurCrowd's annual congress for entrepreneurs and investors.

OurCrowd is considered the world's largest crowds recruitment company, with nearly 6,000 investors from 70 countries. From the Israeli Angle: the company has invested close to 80 million dollars in 52 Israeli startup companies to date.

The congress was held at ICC Jerusalem and the winners of the StartUp2 competition were announced.

During the congress the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat and the CEO of Bank Hapoalim Zion Kenan gave a speech and the Founder and CEO of OurCrowd, Jon Medved, gave the winners their certificates. Medved mentioned that the chosen startups were the most innovative and interesting of all ten projects presented to the company; he added that the fact that they came from different fields proves the world of innovation and initiative in Israel is continuing to grow.

Apart from the competition, the congress also included lectures, plenary sessions, displays, a performance by singer Amir Dadonand lots of delicious food.

The startups that received an investment from the OurCrowd fund are:

1.Taranis Company, which is developing a platform for farmers that will help them minimize risks and to proactively, detects plant diseases and insect plagues.

This service will be accessible to the farmer from everywhere – PC, Tablet or mobile – and offers the farmer all the relevant data he/she needs: a combination of satellite images, weather reports and data from sensors the company provides and he installs at his property.

"We were in fact the only company working in agritech – technology for agriculture," entrepreneur Ofir Schlam said, "we also came already having a proposal from a fund that deals with agriculture, which inspected us thoroughly beforehand and gave us their blessing, so that really helped."

2.    Intendu Company, which is working on an innovative computer software to rehabilitate the brain for home or clinic use, and is actually developing video games designed to train the brain for people with cognitive problems. The company was also rewarded with 200,000 NIS, as part of the audience favorite Prize, courtesy of Bank Hapoalim.

"I saw the enthusiasm and interest in the room, since we are a company that has a goal to do something good in the world and not just make money," entrepreneur Dr. Son Preminger said, "that was a bit of a challenge for them, but that it is a challenge they want to go up against."

ICC Jerusalem has great experience in hosting these types of congresses. The experience and professionalism were a crucial factor in holding this impressive and grand congress, which gave thousands of participants the opportunity to enjoy an international atmosphere.

iccjer.co.il

Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention Bureau, invites you to discover Dubai as a destination for association meetings and corporate events during two upcoming study missions in January and February 2016. These study missions will give you an exciting opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of Dubai and the UAE, as well as the services and facilities of the top hotels and unique venues for your gala dinners and events.

The study missions are open to senior association corporate and event agency professionals who are interested in hosting events in Dubai.

Dubai has established a strong international reputation as a vibrant and diverse destination with a quality hospitality offering, first-class infrastructure and a range of headline grabbing attractions. While the city is well known for luxury, it also offers great value to business and leisure tourists alike.

The emirate’s infrastructure is such that doing business in, and from the city is easy. Transport is expedited by Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest in the world in terms of international traffic. In addition, Dubai’s second international airport, Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC), opened in October 2013 and is set to increase the emirate’s global accessibility even further.

Within the city itself, transport options abound. These include the Gulf region’s first-ever metro system, as well as well-priced taxis, water taxis, buses, chauffeured cars and the soon to be launched Dubai Tram network.

In terms of accommodation, there are currently over 92,000 hotel rooms in stock ranging from seven-star luxury to pocket-friendly mid-ranged options. Estimates show that 20,000 hotel rooms will be added to the market by 2016, many of which will aim to provide good value to visitors.

For business travellers, Dubai’s many hotels also offer a plethora of flexible business facilities – whether that’s simply a meeting room for 10 people or a convention for tens of thousands. And of course, this is all supported with the expansive facilities offered at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) – the host for over 50 per cent of all exhibitions in the Middle East region.

Backed up by a professional service and a ‘can do’ attitude, business travellers appreciate the opportunities on offer in the city.

Of course, Dubai is far more than just all about business. It’s one of the world’s safest and fastest growing tourist destinations. For incentive delegates it offers an array of truly memorable experiences, with itineraries that can capture the essence of Arabia with desert safaris, dune bashing, falconry and camel riding; while adrenaline junkies can go sky-diving over Palm Jumeirah, dive with sharks at the Dubai Aquarium or go skiing at the world’s largest indoor snow park. VIP groups, on the other hand, can take a seaplane or helicopter ride over the city and indulge in afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab.

To register for the study missions or for more info, please contact:

Jerusalem is unconventional!

The brand new Jerusalem Conventions and Visitors Bureau (JCVB) has been founded to serve as primary resource for the organization of conferences in Jerusalem.

Mrs. Ilanit Melchior, Director of Tourism for the Jerusalem Development Authority, explained "We have always known of the special potential of Jerusalem as a conference destination - as we have seen with hundreds of conferences taking place each year - on such varied topics as the Space Conference earlier this month, and the Christian Tabernacles Festival before that - but with the launch now of the Jerusalem Conventions and Visitors Bureau we are able to streamline our efforts to attract large scale conventions and conferences, offering financial incentives as well as logistical support.”

Since its launch earlier this year, the JCVB’s professional staffs is working together with partners across Jerusalem to both attract new conferences and conventions as well as ensure the highest level of services to international and local conferences taking place in Jerusalem. The international outreach has already begun, including a recent delegation of Jerusalem Development Authority officials to the ReJuvenate Marketplace conference in Dallas, Texas, which is one of the largest gatherings of faith-based conference organizers. More information is available on the newly launched website.

www.JerusalemCVB.com

With the highly anticipated opening of Phase One of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in early 2016, the Sultanate of Oman will be placed front and centre on the world stage.

Oman is a land of immense beauty and culture, famed for its outstanding hospitality and friendly people. A symbol of tolerance and neutrality and an oasis of stability and tranquillity, the Sultanate often acts as a bridge between international adversaries.

Safe haven
A safe haven for visitors from around the world, the latest security and safety statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Report placed Oman at an impressive 9th position, out of 141 countries and thanks to its virtually crime free environment, as well as its economic and legal transparency, Oman is known as the peacemaker of the Arabian Gulf.

A unique and irresistible destination with increasing delegate interest, Oman’s tremendous offer has been endorsed by numerous accolades. It was recently ranked seventh in the world for Quality of Life by Numbeo.com, the world’s largest database of user-generated content on cities and countries. The New York Times named Oman as one of the top 52 places in the world to visit in 2015 and the Sultanate was the number one destination for 2015, according to the global travel industry website skift.com.

Such is the charm of Oman that many visitors choose to stay on and make the country their home, amongst them former American Ambassador Richard Baltimore III: “When my period ended in 2006, I was here with my father, my wife and our daughters. We reflected and decided there was no rush to leave. This is a very, very safe country - a beautiful and welcoming country.” Ambassador Baltimore’s views are echoed by those of Salim Al Maamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Tourism: “Oman has been famous throughout history for its hospitality and is known worldwide for its safety and cleanliness. This is what differentiates us from other destinations, not only in the region, but in the whole world.”

Iconic venue
Within this stable environment, the OCEC has been purposefully designed and sustainably built to meet the complex and evolving needs of the global meetings and events industry. Its exceptional assets include: 22,000 square metres of superb column-free exhibition space spanning five halls; ten outstanding hospitality suites; a spectacular 3,200 seat lyric-style tiered auditorium; another elegant 450 seat theatre; two lavish ballrooms that can be divided into a number of self-contained event spaces and a further 13 meeting rooms; to collectively offer over 55 meeting space options.

This world-class events hub is the centrepiece of Oman’s business development programme, supported by the Sultanate’s immense intellectual capital and its growing reputation for education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Acknowledged as the most exciting emerging convention and exhibition destination, and backed by fully integrated transport, logistics and communications infrastructure, the OCEC will attract over 200,000 visitors in its first year of operation.

To book an appointment for your next event or for more information, please visit stand K50 at ibtm world or email Gillian Taylor on gtaylor@omanconvention.com.
 

Following a successful Spring 2015 edition, the Meeting & Incentive (M&I) Forum is set to return to Dubai in 2016 to showcase the emirate as a premier business events destinations. Scheduled to take place on April 4 - 9, 2016 at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, the six-day event is being hosted by Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention Bureau, a division of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), in partnership with JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Emirates Airlines, Arabian Adventures and a number of other venues. 

Over the course of the event, hosted meeting planners from around the world will conduct over 4,500 meetings with Dubai-based and European business event suppliers. The Forum is a platform for some of the world’s leading business event executives to get an update on Dubai’s constantly evolving infrastructure and experience the city’s suitability for international meetings and conferences.

“Business events play a pivotal role in Dubai achieving the ambition of attracting 20 million visitors annually by 2020. Dubai is a robust business destination with world-class infrastructure, diverse capabilities and easy accessibility. By hosting the M&I Forum for the second year running, we are reiterating our commitment to establishing Dubai as a business hub to the world’s leading business events executives” stated Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events.

M&I Forums are industry-leading trade events that feature intensive business networking held at the world’s leading meetings destinations. The forum focuses completely on the business events industry with buyers from traditional and emerging markets converging in destinations across Europe, the Middle East and the US. With face-to-face meetings between hosted buyers and suppliers scheduled ahead of the meeting, the forum offers a strong platform to network, build relationships and explore synergies. The 2016 editions will place Dubai in the spotlight along with Scottsdale, AZ (USA), Madrid (Spain), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Prague (Czech Republic) and Izmir (Turkey).

Commenting on the return of the M&I Forum to Dubai, Richard Barnes, Managing Director of M&I Forums said:“Our return to Dubai signals the rise of Dubai as a global hub for business events. During our maiden outing to the city earlier this year, the buyers were impressed by the standard of its facilities and its ambition to develop it further. There is a growing appetite amongst buyers to forge strong networks in this market and its current pace of investment in the sector is only accelerating Dubai’s development as one of the premier business event destinations in the world.”

Delegates at M&I Forum Europe Spring will get access to Dubai’s world-class transportation, hotels and meetings facilities. With a number of hotels under construction and several mega-entertainment sites in the making, including Dubai Parks & Resorts and Dubai Opera, the Forum will showcase Dubai’s potential as the efficient host of international meetings and conferences. With three international terminals dedicated to linking Dubai to over 260 destinations around the globe, the city’s accessibility to traditional and emerging source markets is also a pivotal factor in attracting international businesses and business travellers to the city.

Also on the agenda will be a number of dinners and receptions at some of Dubai’s many unique venues, including evening functions in the desert.

For more information on M&I Forum Europe Spring 2016, or to take part in the event, please visit the M&I Forums websitewww.mi-forums.com

Since it was established in March 2013, the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau has been driving and promoting the business events industry throughout the emirate with the mission to position Abu Dhabi as the prime global business events destination.

Abu Dhabi is a hidden gem for association organisers seeking the ideal MICE destination

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau is a team of about 30 people who provide assistance in terms of VISA support, venue searches, price negotiation, etc.

In the last couple of years Abu Dhabi has hosted many high profile events and there are several conventions still to come, this along with the world-class facilities has caused the industry in Abu Dhabi to show immense growth.

International convention organisers who go to a different country may face challenges relating to not knowing the customs or governmental procedures, so the Bureau will be able to assist with general event planning such as speakers and venue searches as well as getting the appropriate governmental organisations involved. Essentially the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau is there to ensure a seamless and successful event.

Abu Dhabi offers diversity in the form of beautiful beaches, authentic and cultural desert experiences as well as a world-class city. The infrastructure is modern and contained, making exploring this city an absolute pleasure.

Dubai Business Events - The Official Convention Bureau invites you to discover Dubai as a destination for business events during two upcoming study missions in January and February 2016.

The study missions will give you an exciting opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of Dubai and the UAE as well asthe services and facilities of the top hotels and unique venues for your gala dinners and events. You will also be able to experience and see what makes this city one of the fastest growing destinations in the world, thanks to its remarkable landmarks, leisure activities, growing knowledge hubs and warm Arabian hospitality.

The study missions are open to senior association, corporate and event agency professionals who are interested in placing events in Dubai.

Benefits of participation include:

• Explore this key growth market for your future business events
• Understand the support available for organisations looking to host international events
• Establish relationships with local industry such as venues, hotels and support service companies that match your needs
• Learn about and experience Dubai’s economic, social and cultural environments

Contact: If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact:

Maris Kuklis, Dubai Business Events - European Office marisk@hillsbalfour.com +44 (0)207 593 1724

Terms and conditions apply. Please note that attending the study missions are by invitation only. Participation is offered on a fully complimentary basis.