Index Conferences and Exhibitions attracted 279,057 delegates and visitors from 160 countries to its portfolio of gatherings, with international attendees accounting for 65 per cent of the total, the Dubai-based organiser reported. A member of Index Holding, the company organises more than 40 conferences and exhibitions annually both regionally and internationally, drawing decision-makers, experts, academics and entrepreneurs from across continents. Its events spanned sectors that included pharmaceuticals, dentistry, dermatology, humanitarian aid and family medicine, generating wide-ranging activity that extended beyond immediate venues into supporting industries.
The company said in a statement that its activities produced revenues of Dh163.2 million for restaurants along with Dh108.8 million for tourism and Dh90.7 million for retail as visitors responded to products and services on display. Hospitality benefited from 761,182 hotel room nights that yielded Dh380.9 million while air transport services generated Dh453.5 million through increased flights and bookings that strengthened global connectivity. Ground transport added Dh92.5 million from movements linking venues, hotels and tourist sites, and remaining sectors contributed more than Dh90.7 million, according to the company’s breakdown that illustrated the interconnected benefits across the economy.
Major platforms organised by the company included the Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition known as Duphat, the UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition held in Dubai, and the Dubai World Dermatology and Laser Conference and Exhibition. Additional prominent events encompassed the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, the Healthcare Future Summit and the International Family Medicine Conference and Exhibition. These gatherings, the organiser noted, played a central role in driving commercial exchanges that totalled Dh54 billion during the 14-month period.
Ambassador Professor Abdulsalam AlMadani, chairman of Index Holding, said, “The continued growth of this sector reflects the strategic vision of the United Arab Emirates and its commitment to reinforcing its position as a leading global centre for business and innovation.” AlMadani added, “What we are witnessing today is not merely growth in the events sector, but a clear affirmation of the strength of the business environment in the UAE and its ability to transform opportunities into sustained economic growth.” He stated that international events have become a key economic driver for building partnerships, accelerating investment and strengthening the knowledge-based economy.
The UAE updated and refined more than 40 laws and regulations over recent years to support the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector and heighten the country’s competitiveness, the company highlighted in its announcement. AlMadani noted that the figures demonstrate how such events enhance investment and collaboration opportunities while reinforcing the UAE’s status as a global destination for business and innovation. The statement described the outcomes as evidence of the sector’s expanding influence on national economic activity.
AlMadani further said in the announcement, “Amid rapid global change, we are focused on advancing resilient, sustainable business models that turn challenges into real opportunities for growth.” He outlined ambitions that extend beyond numerical targets to expanding global reach, drawing additional international events and generating high-quality prospects that sustain expansion. The company’s approach, according to the statement, aims to solidify the UAE’s position as a hub for business and innovation through continued sector development.
