Dubai stole some of the limelight on the opening day (May 21st) of the European Incentive and Business Travel Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM) in Geneva as the Government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) introduced co-participants, trade visitors and the media to the Dubai International Convention Centre
(DICC).
The new world-class facility to be managed by the DWTC will be completed by March 2003 it was announced.
Unveiling a scaled down model of the DICC on the Dubai stand, DTCM Director Operations and Marketing, Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb said, “Dubai is one of the most exciting new destinations to emerge on the MICE market in recent years and has already achieved considerable success because it fits distinctively into the MICE organizer’s ideal profile of somewhere new and different that combines exotic experiences and excitement with professional destination management services and top quality hotels.”
“The opening of the DICC will boost Dubai’s status as a MICE location. The new facility will be big enough to accommodate events with up to 11,000 delegates and its main multipurpose hall will have the capacity to hold up to 6,000 people when set as an auditorium,” remarked Mr. bin
Hareb.
He noted Dubai was on the verge of making an impact on the MICE circuit by playing host to Dubai 2003 - the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September 2003. “The spotlight will be on Dubai in September 2003 and the DTCM will capitalize on the increased awareness generated through this event to project Dubai’s image as a dynamic international centre and an ideal venue for the MICE sector,” Mr. bin Hareb added.
The flexibility of the new multipurpose hall is one of the key highlights of the new facility. Adjustable walls and retractable seating can be configured in an endless array to accommodate any event - from an opera, ballet or theatrical production, to a lecture or plenary session, or a world-class sporting championship game, for example, tennis or basketball, and a range of entertainment options including specialized concerts, be they jazz, classical or pop.
“Over the past decade Dubai has matured significantly and its infrastructure has embraced the meetings and exhibition sectors. With a new world-class convention centre that incorporates sophisticated technological solutions, managed by an organization with more than two decades of experience in mounting successful international events and exhibitions, DICC will be well-equipped to host many of the world’s largest international meetings and conventions,” said Houssam Tantawi, DWTC Corporate Manager, Marketing and Business Development.
“A superb high tech infrastructure coupled with a wealth of experience in event organizing and catering will ensure delegates are handled with care and professionalism,” he said.
The Dubai International Convention Centre will feature a 6,860 square metre multipurpose hall and 44 breakout rooms that can hold from 60-600 delegates. Located next to the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, which offers 37,000 square metres of prime exhibition space, the new facility is expected to propel Dubai into the international meetings, incentive, convention and exhibitions limelight.
The new facility will also be complemented by more than 1000 on-site accommodation options – a 412-room Novotel Hotel will flank one side of the new convention centre, and a 210-room Ibis business Hotel will be positioned at the opposite side. In addition, the Dubai International Hotel Apartments, another Dubai World Trade Centre operation, offers 492 fully furnished one, two and three-bedroom apartments available on a nightly, weekly, monthly or annual basis. |
