Dubai is set to make waves in the business events sector with the announcement of a new joint venture between the Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa, named inD. This partnership aims to elevate the standards of direct business events in the region by bringing together an impressive portfolio of over 40 prominent brands. Highlighting key sectors such as healthcare, energy, aviation, food and beverage, information technology, and cybersecurity, inD is anticipated to redefine the landscape of trade events in Dubai.
Innovative Branding for Major Events
Through the establishment of inD, the Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa will manage a diverse range of events that cater to fast-growing industries. Major events include the Global Health Exhibition, Middle East Energy Exhibition, Dubai Airshow, Gulfood, GITEX Global, and the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC). With these well-established brands under one umbrella, inD is poised to generate more than $650 million in revenue by 2026, driven by the increasing demand for impactful direct business experiences.
The Importance of Direct Business Events
Direct business events play a crucial role in connecting various economic sectors, thought leaders, and decision-makers. These gatherings foster innovation and stimulate growth and investment opportunities. They provide businesses with a platform to explore new markets, showcase products and services, and establish long-lasting partnerships, making inD an essential player in the future of the industry.
Strategic Timing and Infrastructure Development
The launch of inD comes at a critical juncture, coinciding with significant expansions in Dubai’s event hosting capabilities. The ongoing development of the Dubai Exhibition Centre aims to add 140,000 square meters of event space this year, further solidifying Dubai’s reputation as one of the most dynamic and innovative global markets for direct business events. This enhanced capacity is expected to accommodate a growing portfolio of high-profile exhibitions effectively.
Upcoming Major Events
Gulfood, scheduled from January 26 to 30, 2026, will mark the first event organized under the inD brand, taking place at an unprecedented scale across the two primary venues of the Dubai World Trade Centre: the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Dubai Exhibition Centre. With more than 8,500 exhibitors showcasing 1.5 million products from 195 countries, this event sets a high benchmark for what’s to come. Following this, the Global Health Exhibition WHX Dubai, slated for February 9-12, and WHX Labs Dubai, set for February 10-13, will also draw significant international participation, with over 4,800 exhibitors anticipated and a projected attendance of more than 270,000 healthcare professionals from over 180 countries.
Visionary Leadership and Partnership Statements
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, emphasized the strategic significance of this partnership, stating, “Dubai has always been the global destination for international business events. This partnership elevates this status to new heights, transforming Dubai into a global hub for intellectual property and knowledge, which accelerates growth opportunities for leading brands under the Dubai World Trade Centre. It also enhances the long-term impact on Dubai’s GDP and reinforces its role as a key global driver in the direct business events sector.”
On the same note, Stephen A. Carter, CEO of Informa, remarked, “The launch of inD deepens our partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre at a time of structural growth in our sector and strong economic growth in the region, particularly in the UAE market. This comes alongside the increased availability of high-quality facilities to host events, addressing the growing demand for direct business events.”