Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion Advances Towards 180,000 Sqm Capacity
Construction is advancing on the second phase of the AED 10bn ($2.7bn) Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion at Expo City Dubai, as Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) prepares to host more than 100 exhibitions, conferences and business events during the final quarter of 2026.
The expansion is designed to accommodate major international events and contribute to the target of increasing the sector’s annual economic output to AED 54bn ($14.7bn) by 2033.
The first phase, which has been completed, increased the Dubai Exhibition Centre’s indoor exhibition space to 140,000 square metres, allowing the venue to welcome up to 50,000 visitors daily.
The second phase is expected to raise the centre’s indoor exhibition capacity to 160,000 square metres.
The final phase is scheduled for completion by 2031 and will expand the venue to 180,000 square metres across a 1.2-kilometre development.
Once all three phases are completed, Dubai Exhibition Centre will be able to accommodate up to 65,000 visitors daily and host more than 20 events at the same time.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), said the upcoming expansion phases would provide existing events with additional room to grow while creating opportunities to attract more international exhibitions and conferences.
DWTC’s fourth-quarter events calendar covers both its central business district venue and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. Major events include GITEX Global, Big 5 Global, WETEX, Gulfood Manufacturing and Automechanika, representing sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, construction, manufacturing, energy and sustainability.
Julfar said the programme demonstrated continued international confidence in Dubai as a destination for business activities, market exploration and corporate expansion. He added that 2026 was the first year in which events were organised and hosted across the two integrated venues. The approach has given organisers greater flexibility and additional space, enhancing Dubai’s capacity to accommodate large-scale international events.
Citing Gulfood as an example of this growth, Julfar said the exhibition had more than doubled in size, attracting over 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries.
Major events hosted by DWTC generated AED 25.03bn ($6.8bn) in economic output in 2025, up from AED 22.35bn ($6.1bn) in 2024.
Of the total economic output recorded in 2025, approximately AED 14.66bn ($4bn) was contributed to the city’s economy through gross value added.
Julfar said business events contributed to economic growth through their direct output while generating additional activity across sectors such as aviation, transport and hospitality.
The industry also drives trade, professional services, local business activity and supply chains that support international visitors, exhibitors and event participants.
The Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion and the two-venue events strategy are part of broader efforts to reinforce the emirate’s position as a global hub for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
The additional capacity is expected to accommodate more large-scale events taking place simultaneously while creating further opportunities for investment, spending and business partnerships across established and emerging industries.