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Dubai to shell out AED 10 bn for DEC expansion: Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum greenlit a AED 10 bn expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. Once complete, this will make DEC the largest indoor events and exhibitions venue in the region, 1.5x larger than the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
The big picture: The expansion aims to cement Dubai’s position as a global hub for mega events, boosting economic growth and tourism under the emirate’s 2040 Urban Master Plan. By 2033, Dubai plans to double the number of large-scale events it hosts annually to 600 from 300 today, and grow its meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector to generate AED 54 bn per year.
The roadmap:
- Phase one should wrap by 2026, and should see the exhibition space increase to 140k sqm, up from the current 58k sqm;
- Phase two will wrap in 2028, and will see the space further expand to 160k sqm, with additional infrastructure enhancements;
- Finally, by 2031, the third phase will see the space reach 180k sqm, featuring 26 halls, accommodating one mega event or up to 20 simultaneous smaller events, a hotel with over 300 hotel rooms, commercial offices, and an industrial kitchen to the center.
