MIDDLE EAST - The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company has claimed its best ever year of business due to the growth of the business tourism sector in 2012.
According to the company, the number of visitors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and the Al Ain Convention Centre grew to 1.4m during 2012, compared to around one million in 2011. The number of events rose to 360 in 2012, up from 232 the previous year, a 55 per cent increase.
In all, ADNEC hosted 111 special events and corporate meetings, 33 exhibitions and four live events in 2012. Events such as the Abu Dhabi Book Fair with 250,000 attendees and the World Ophthalmology Congress 2012 attracting 120,000 people were seen as key to the year’s success.
“ADNEC is a crucial component of the government’s vision for the future of the emirate,” said ADNEC’s chief commercial officer, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri. He said the venue works closely with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to position the emirate as a leading MICE destination.
Al Dhaheri said with the launch of a dedicated Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, the company is confident in making Abu Dhabi a strong global player in the event industry, even when there can be a lead time of three to four years between winning a bid and hosting an event. “The fruits of our labour over the next 12 to 18 months are likely to emerge in 2016 and beyond,” he said.
Abu Dhabi hosted the 2012 UFI Annual Congress in November.
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