Dubai Enhances MICE Position at IMEX Frankfurt 2026

Dubai Business Events, operating under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, spearheaded the emirate's representation at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 from May 19 to 21, showcasing collaboration with 20 partners from the local business events landscape.

The delegation featured key figures from organizations such as the Dubai World Trade Centre, Coca-Cola Arena, Museum of the Future, and JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, alongside various destination management firms, hotels, and venues.

Dubai further solidified its status as a premier global hub for business events, earning commendations from the International Congress and Convention Association. The city ranked first worldwide for the highest attendee numbers at association conferences in 2025, and also led the Middle East in hosting the most association conferences.

Cvent identified Dubai as the top meeting destination in the Middle East and Africa.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, emphasized the crucial role of business events in driving Dubai's sustained economic development through tourism, knowledge sharing, industry collaboration, and global partnerships.

He noted that Dubai's presence at IMEX Frankfurt underscores the emirate's dedication to drawing international conferences and exhibitions that add lasting value for various industries, businesses, and talent development. This aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision.

The theme for this year's IMEX Frankfurt, “Design Matters,” resonated with Dubai's commitment to curating business events that facilitate not only attendee engagement but also foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth within sectors.

Dubai's strategic approach to business events prioritizes enhancements in venue infrastructure, service quality, accessibility, and cross-industry partnerships. IMEX Frankfurt remains a pivotal platform for Dubai to connect with global industry entities, such as the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers and Best Cities Global Alliance.

Dubai Business Events reported a robust growth in 2025, initiating 747 bids and celebrating 504 event successes confirmed for dates extending to 2029, marking a 15 percent rise from 2024. These confirmed events are projected to welcome over 272,000 attendees, reflecting a 29 percent year-on-year growth in visitors.

Additionally, the city supported 481 business events in 2025, up from 429 in 2024.

Key victories for Dubai include hosting SIBOS 2029, expecting 12,000 delegates; SPE ATCE Annual Congress 2028 with 8,000 delegates; Apimondia 2027 with 5,000 delegates; and the World Engineers Congress 2027 anticipating around 3,000 delegates.

Dubai's engagement at IMEX Frankfurt showcases its unwavering pursuit to attract major international conferences while fortifying its reputation as a leading player in the global MICE tourism landscape.