UAE Exhibitions and Events
for more
information visit the exhibitions
and events sites
Introduction
The UAE is a major world center for an increasingly wide range of exhibitions and
conferences that cater for virtually all major interest
groups, from farmers to military advisers and from
commercial trades to medical specialists. Well-equipped
exhibition centers and conference facilities are present in
each of the major cities. In addition to the big shows such
as IDEX, TRIDEX and the Dubai Air Sh ow, there are many
other annual shows that attract thousands of visitors to the
UAE, not all of which are for members of particular trades
or professions: the Dubai Shopping Festival, for example,
brings large numbers of ordinary shoppers to the Emirates
and it is a great boos to local commerce.
Information on forthcoming events
is now readily available on the key web sites of each
region:
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry at http://www.adcci-uaecom/events/events.htm;
Dubai World Trade Center at
http://www.dwtcuae.com/events/exh1999.htm
Sharjah Exhibition Center
at
http://www.expo-centre.co.ae.
In addition the web site
sponsored by the UAE Ministry of Information and Culture,
http://www.uaeinteract.com, has links to these and other
sites and carries regular news items concerning exhibitions,
together with a stored database of exhibition related
information.
Organization of major exhibitions
is being undertaken by specialized bodies and considerable efforts are being made to
maximize coordination between the
various interested parties. In Abu Dhabi the General
Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) was recently established to
supervise all exhibitions and conferences held in the
emirate, defence related or otherwise. GEC aims to create a
framework for all event management companies in the various
sectors, in order to maintain a unified international
standard for all events held in Abu Dhabi.
Forthcoming major events to be organized
by GEC are the second session of the Triple
International Defence Exhibition and Conference, TRIDEX
2000, followed by Environment 2001 Exhibition and Conference
scheduled for February 2001. Meanwhile many exhibition centers
are undergoing upgrading, expansion or new
construction. The UAE Offsets Group (UOG) secured licenses
for setting up World Trade Centers in each of the UAE's
major cities. The licensing body is The World Trade Centers Association which has 330
centers in 101 countries. The
landmark Dubai World Trade Center was established in 1982
and a n ew Abu Dhabi World Trade Center is now at the
planning stage. At the time of writing four sites we re
under assessment and the actual site was expected to be finalized
by late 1999.
ADIPEC
The Eighth Abu Dhabi
International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC)
had as its theme: 'Oil and Gas Industry in the 21st Century
– Technical and Environmental Challenges'. The four-day
event was organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Over
800 companies from 34 countries participated. The largest
oil and gas exhibition and conference in the Middle East, it
is also rated among the top 10 oil and gas events in the
world. The UAE pavilion was the largest with around 250
companies participating. Overseas participating national
pavilions included those of the UK, Austria and Canada. Over
80 technical papers were p resented on state-of-the-art
technologies, scientific methods implemented in exploration
and extraction of oil and gas, information technology and
manpower planning. Over 8,000 visitors attended the
exhibition and more than 90 per cent of the exhibitors
confirmed their participation for the next event in the year
2000.
MILCON
1999
The International Defence
Conference MILCON 1999 was opened by Sheikh Nahyan bin
Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of
Technology. ‘What happens in the region affects the economy,
security and stability of the world. We live in a world that
is largely at
peace, yet it is a world of many danger
spots and full of uncertainty,’ the Minister acknowledged in
his opening speech. The conference theme, 'Defence Solutions
for the 21st Century', addressed these issues and featured
discussions on future defence and military training needs in
the Gulf.
IDEX
‘99
The Fourth International Defence
Exhibition and Conference IDEX ‘99 was officially
inaugurated by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Al Nahyan who commented that ‘the UAE ' s policy, designed
and cemented by President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan, is based on a strong belief that peace and stability
are the cornerstones of development, progress and security’.
He stressed that the UAE did not intend to take part in an
arms race in the Gulf and that the country's concern over
military issues would not over shadow its interest in
development and progress. In an interview with Gulf
Defence magazine on the occasion of the IDEX opening,
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of
Defence and Crown Prince of Dubai said that the UAE has put
all its power and financial capabilities at the service of
regional and international peace: ‘We follow wise and
balanced policies under the leadership of our President HH
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. These are based on
openness and a close relationship with the outside world. We
believe in peaceful dialogue to resolve our differences and
disputes with others. It is not our policy to
resort to the language or threats of war and we adhere to
the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of
others,’ the General added.
IDEX '99 featured the wares of
848 companies from 41 countries. From missiles and
electronic control equipment to warships and aircraft, the
five-day exhibition showcased the latest that the armament
industry has to offer. By the conclusion of the event new
contracts worth in excess of Dh 645 million (US $175
million) had been announced and talks on various other
projects concerning the UAE's military equipment we re
continuing.
JEWELLERY
EXHIBITION
The annual jewellery exhibition,
now a major event in the UAE's calendar, was held during
April 1999 at the Dubai World Trade Center. International
Jewellery Dubai '99, as it was known, was the biggest
jewellery exhibition in the Middle East and attracted some
of the most famous names, both regional and worldwide, in
the jewellery industry.
BOAT
SHOW
The Middle East International
Boat Show MEIBS '99 took place at the Dubai International
Marine Club from 17to 20 March, focusing attention once more
on the region's marine companies. In addition to the strong
local presence, international participation included
members of the marine industry from Italy, UK, Holland,
Australia, Korea, Turkey and India.
CABSAT
'99
The Fifth Middle East
International Cable, Satellite and Broadcast Exhibition
CABSAT '99, took place during March 1999 at the Dubai World
Trade Center. It featured the latest in antennae, cable
installation equipment, connectors, decoders, digital audio
equipment, down converters, feed horns, LNBs, receivers, signal generators, telecom and test equipment, Pay-TV
billing systems, digital compression systems and satellite
service providers.
ENVIRONMENT
2001
The Environment 2001 Exhibition
and Conference is scheduled to take place between 4–8
February 2001 in Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the fourth UAE
National Environment Day. The event will provide a fitting
opportunity for announcement of the winner of the Zayed
Environment Prize and to highlight the UAE's leading role in
environmental protection. The conference is being sponsored
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO).
ADIF
‘99
Abu Dhabi's largest general trade
event, the Abu Dhabi International Fair ADIF '99, attracted
over 600 companies from 30 countries. The exhibit profile
was varied and comprehensive, spreading over an area of
16,000 square meters and offering visitors everything from
toys, cosmetics, jewellery, electronics and home appliances,
to foodstuff, automobiles and real estate. In the industrial
sector products and services were featured relating to oil
field supplies, storage tanks, construction equipment and
tools.
DUBAI SHOPPING
FESTIVAL
Justifying its claim as the UAE's
biggest tourist attraction, the Dubai Shopping Festival
attracted a record 2.4 million visitors and recorded
sales of Dh 4.15 billion. The average daily spend in
the retail sector during the 28-day-long Dubai Shopping
Festival was Dh 141 million – a 14 per cent increase over
the previous year. In addition a total of Dh 200 million was
spent by shoppers on eating out and local transport. An
independent study commissioned by the Government of Dubai
showed that during the festival, from 18 March to 14 April,
the daily visitor count went up by 18 per cent to 86,000 as
compared with 73,000 in the previous year. The study
recorded a dramatic increase in the number of foreign guests
staying at hotels and furnished apartments in Dubai. The
daily average number of foreign visitors from outside the
UAE was 21,800. The average group size of foreign visitors
increased from a little over three in 1998 to more than five
in 1999; an indication that this year's festival attracted
more families than single travelers and reflected the
festival's family theme.
Dubai Shopping Festival 2000,
which will take place during the entire month of March is
likely to be an even greater success. The Dubai Shopping
Festival, first launched in February 1996, is an
emirate-wide shopping, entertainment, sporting and cultural
extravaganza and is a joint effort by the public and
private sectors.
DUBAI SUMMER
SURPRISES
The 85-day Dubai Summer Surprises
(DSS) provided a series of attractions for visitors to the
emirate during the hot summer months. The DSS theme slogan
'Big Fun For Little Ones', was reflected by many of the
events held to mark the 12-week period. The main function of
DSS is to promote Dubai as an ideal holiday destination for
families in the AGCC and the Middle East region. It is
geared towards revitalising the trade and tourism sectors
during summer, drawing visitors to hotels, shopping malls,
entertainment centers and other climate-controlled
facilities which offer families a fun-filled and
cost-effective summer getaway.
ARABIAN TRAVEL
MARKET
The Seventh Arabian Travel Market
ATM ‘99 travel and tourism exhibition was held at the Dubai
World Trade Center. Attended by exhibitors from over 42
countries. The 1999 show was the biggest so far, with over
1,700 travel buyers pre-registered for the show, marking a
rise of 40 per cent over 1998.
DUBAI 2000
AIRSHOW
The Dubai 2000 Airshow and Aerospace Exhibition held from 14 to 18 November 1999, took
place at a Dh 300 million new purpose-built site occupying
an area of 52,000 square meters, making it the world's
second largest venue for such events. The show had
previously been ranked the third most important in the world
after Far borough in the UK and Le Bourget in France, but
has now surpassed the French exhibition. It is also the only
air show with its own purpose-built site and exhibition
halls. The total area, including an apron, was 30 per cent
larger than the area devoted to the 1997
show.
The exhibition center is
interlinked with the main Dubai International Airport runway
by a dedicated taxiway, providing exhibitors with the
opportunity to transport their products directly off the
plane and into the halls, saving both time and money. When
not in use for the biennial airshow the exhibition center will host the Dubai International Aerospace Exhibition,
airport and aviation-related shows and other major trade
exhibitions.
ABU DHABI BOOK
FAIR
The opening of the Ninth Abu
Dhabi International Book Fair by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak
Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific
Research, was transmitted on the Internet. Over 155,000
Arabic and foreign titles were on display with 523 Arabic
and foreign publishers taking part. In his opening speech
Sheikh Nahyan said:
‘Despite the invasion of the
computer in our lives, books still remain a very special and
unique educational and recreational tool.’
ABU DHABI SALES
FESTIVAL
The capital's first shopping
festival, staged by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and
Industry to mark its thirtieth anniversary, was opened by
Saeed bin Jabr Al Suweidi, First Vice-President of the
Chamber. The festival hoped to invigorate trade and tourism
by offering significant discounts on all products. Discounts
we re on items related to a specific theme each week,
beginning with gold, textiles and clothing, followed by food
and beverages and electronics and household items.
International artistes, musicians, jugglers, dancers and
clowns entertained shoppers. Major attractions included a Dh
1 million raffle, draws for luxury cars and a 14-kilo gold
raffle.
PEDIGREE DOG
SHOW
A 19-month-old female white
standard poodle, owned by Sheikha Hassa bint Mohammed Al
Maktoum won the prize for Best in Show at the Dubai Pedigree
Dog Show, an event that attracted 13,000 visitors. Other
classes included pedigree puppies, won by a giant schnauzer,
special yearling (border collie), hound (saluki), gun dog
(American cocker-spaniel), working dog (rough collie), toy
(bichan freise), terrier (West Highland white) and utility
(standard poodle).
NATIONS IN
BLOOM
Nations in Bloom '98, hosted by
Al Ain city, attracted 18 communities, counties and cities
from around the world in competition for the prestigious
environmental awards. Sponsored by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the competition best ows
awards to the top two cities in each of four categories,
ranging from communities with populations of 10,000 people
to those with more than 1 million. In 1997 Al Ain, known as
the ‘Garden City of the UAE’, finished runner-up in the
below-300,000 population category, narrowly losing out to
Westminster, England. This year Al Ain did not compete since
it was hosting the event, but Westminster again took a top
prize. The award ceremony was held in a bedouin tent at the
Al Ain Hilton Hotel.
GULF FOOD
‘99
The Seventh Gulf Food ‘99, Hotel
and Equipment Exhibition, billed as the biggest show of its
kind with more than 400 exhibitors from 37 countries, was
held at the Dubai World Trade Center. The event attracted
some of the top names in the industry. A wide
variety of environmentally friendly products, a range
of state-of-the-art catering products, the latest
advances in hotel and catering equipment, a comprehensive
range of bakery products, as well as food and beverages we
re on show. Dubai’s growth as a center for tourism in the
region has also increased the importance of the exhibition
for the booming hotel and restaurant industry.
ADITEX
‘99
At least 200 companies
participated in the Abu Dhabi Information Technology
Exhibition, ADITEX '99. Exhibitors included regional and
overseas companies displaying a wide range of IT and
telecommunications products. The show, which was held at the
Cultural Foundation, comprised a number of elements
including Abu Dhabi Information Technology '99, Abu Dhabi
Computer Shopper '99 and Abu Dhabi Mobile Phone
'99.
GITEX
What is now undoubtedly the
largest IT exhibition in the Middle East, GITEX ‘99, which
was held at the Dubai World Trade Center, set new records in
the number of visitors, new business partnerships, product
launches and the number and quality of conferences and
seminars. Mo re than 60,000 visitors attended from 92
countries and more than 76,000 visited the adjacent Computer
Shopper exhibition. The 450 exhibitors from 32 countries
enjoyed an exceptional increase in business during the
show.
GULF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
EXHIBITION
Mo re than 200 institutions from
some 25 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa
and Australia as well as the Gulf exhibited at the Eleventh
Gulf Education and Training Exhibition held at the Dubai
World Trade Center from 13 to 16 April 1999. In addition to
schools and universities a wide selection of language
tuition, distance learning, technical training and specialized
courses for specific industries were
represented. This exhibition is a useful forum for the
exchange of educational information, not just in the UAE,
but throughout the entire Gulf region. It brings together a
wide range of specialists and enables individuals and organizations
to obtain the necessary information required
to make informed choices.
WORLD BANK
CONFERENCE
The UAE has been chosen by the
World Bank to host the annual conference in 2003 of the Bank
and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The high profile
international conference will be attended by 180 member
countries of the World Bank and the IMF. The role being
played by the UAE at the international level, and the
country's efforts to bring relief to the people of Kosovo,
in addition to its generous assistance to poor countries of
the world were reported to have contributed to the selection
of the UAE as the venue for the 2003 conference.
Exhibition Organizers:
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