Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) today announced that Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and Al Ain Convention Centre (AACC), the UAE Capital’s leading event venues, contributed a whopping AED2.3 billion to the Abu Dhabi economy in just H1 2019, taking the company’s cumulative economic impact to AED34.3 billion since its establishment in 2005.
The company’s direct and indirect contribution to the UAE capital’s economy increased by 45 percent this year, compared to the same period in 2018. The significant increase was due to the successful International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), both held at ADNEC.
Reinforcing the company’s status as the leading and preferred international exhibition venues operator, ADNEC and AACC hosted 29 exhibitions, 108 conferences and events, as well as 88 special events and supported more than 12,502 jobs in business tourism related sectors in the first half of 2019. The total number of the venues’ surrounding hotels registered 343,100 overnight visitors.
In H1 2019, ADNEC and AACC welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors from the UAE and across the world, marking a significant increase of 79 percent of visitors, compared to the first half of 2018 (684,747). Since their establishment, the venues welcomed more than 19 million visitors.
The Emiratisation rate reached 73 per cent and Emirati women now represent 41 per cent of the total national workforce, with 86 per cent of Emiratis holding senior management positions.
Her Excellency Noura Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Chairwoman of ADNEC Group, said: “The UAE capital is leading the way in positioning itself as the region’s preferred business tourism hub and ADNEC’s H1 performance testifies to our concerted efforts to maintain this status.”
She added: “In line with our priority to contribute to achieving the Abu Dhabi Plan and its Economic Vision 2030, ADNEC will continue to drive the diversification and growth of the emirate’s economy as a central part of its strategy.”
Speaking on the robust performance, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC, said: “The impressive number of events hosted by our venues in the first half of 2019 reinforces our position as a leading destination in the flourishing business tourism sector. The company’s direct and indirect contribution to Abu Dhabi’s economy increased by 45 per cent this year, compared to the same period last year, reaffirming our mission of becoming the leading destination for national and international events. We are optimistic that we will also witness great success in the second half of this year, as we gear up to host more than 150 events and exhibitions.”
He added: “At ADNEC, we are committed to developing the capabilities of the UAE national workforce and supporting those who bring to the table avant-garde ideas and innovative concepts through helping to translate these into reality. The company’s success has, in fact, been led by its UAE national workforce that demonstrates impressive knowledge and talent. Their efforts are a testament to the directive of our country’s wise leadership of supporting the education and upskilling of UAE citizens.”
Notably, the company also won three major international conference bids in the first six months of the year. The major local and international exhibitions, conferences and events hosted at ADNEC in H1 2019 included the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), which was held from 14 to 17 January. The summit served as a platform for governments, corporations, investors and entrepreneurs, and welcomed more than 33,000 visitors, as well as 850 exhibitors and representatives from over 170 countries. The event showcased pioneering technologies and breakthrough ideas in energy efficiency, solar, water, waste and smart cities.
Other successful events held at ADNEC in 2019 included the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2019) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX 2019), both held from 17 to 21 February. More than 1,300 defence firms and entities from 62 countries participated in the region’s largest specialised defence exhibition, which also convened military leaders to discuss global security and defence issues.
The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), which was held from 1 to 2 April at ADNEC, is the largest exhibition and conference in the world dedicated to sustainable agriculture technology across all types of food production. More than 7,000 visitors and 310 exhibiting companies hailing from 120 countries attended this year’s event, where 50 innovations in agriculture and sustainable food production were presented.
Another event that saw major success this year was the Emirates Skills’ National Competition, held at ADNEC from 15 to 17 April. The yearly competition aims to create qualified future generations that specialise in various technological and industrial sectors. The 2019 edition welcomed more than 400 students from around the country, who competed in 54 skills categories, ranging from carpentry to mechatronics and media production.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), which took place from 24 to 30 April is recognised as the most diverse book fair in the region. The 29th edition of ADIBF highlighted the UAE’s rich culture and heritage, while showcasing the country’s authenticity, modernity and literary output.
The International Society of Paediatric Oncology – Abu Dhabi SIOP Asia 2019 was another successful event held at ADNEC in the first half of this year. The conference, which was held from 3 to 6 April, aimed to improve and optimise cancer treatments throughout the world, while building strong collaborations with countries among the Asian continent for a better childhood cancer care.
The Special Olympics World Games 2019 was held from 14 to 21 March. Hosted for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, the 2019 edition aimed to promote positive social change for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport. The historic 50th edition welcomed more than 7,500 athletes from over 190 countries to the UAE, who competed in a series of sports activities and team-building initiatives.
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is the largest venue operated by the company and offers 133,000 square metres of flexible events space. The state-of-the-art venue offers unparalleled facilities to support local and international event organisers in hosting high-profile MICE events.
Al Ain Convention Centre, which is ideally located next to both the Municipality District and Al Ain’s bustling Al Jimi Mall, has direct access to major roads to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The venue includes 12,000 square metres of interconnected column-free space.
In 2018, the company achieved the highest customer satisfaction rating of 94.7 per cent in the global events and exhibitions industry, confirming that its efforts to provide world-class services resonated well with its clients.
