Dubai Business Stories

Dubai reinforced its position as a leading global destination for business events during IMEX Frankfurt 2026, where Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, led a delegation of 20 industry partners from 19 to 21 May.

The delegation included representatives from across Dubai’s meetings and events sector, including Dubai World Trade Centre, Coca-Cola Arena, the Museum of the Future and JW Marriott Marquis, alongside destination management companies, hotels and venue operators.

The city’s presence at the international trade event came as Dubai secured several major industry rankings in 2025. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Dubai first globally for the highest average attendance per association conference and first in the Middle East for the total number of association conferences hosted. Dubai also retained the top position among Cvent’s Top 25 Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa.

Ahmed Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said business events continue to support Dubai’s long-term economic strategy by driving knowledge exchange, professional collaboration and international partnerships. He said Dubai’s participation at IMEX Frankfurt aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and reflects coordinated efforts across the public and private sectors to attract international events with long-term economic impact.

DBE said Dubai’s strategy remains focused on attracting meetings and congresses that contribute to industry growth, innovation and international engagement, supported by continued investment in infrastructure, accessibility and event services.

IMEX Frankfurt is part of Dubai’s wider international engagement programme, which also includes IMEX America, IBTM World and global sales missions aimed at securing future conferences and exhibitions. The event also provides opportunities for engagement with international industry organisations including ICCA, IAPCO and the Best Cities Global Alliance.

Dubai Business Events reported continued growth across the sector in 2025. The organisation submitted 747 bids for international events and secured 504 successful wins scheduled through 2029, representing a 15 per cent increase compared with 2024. The confirmed events are expected to attract more than 272,000 delegates to Dubai, a 29 per cent increase year on year.

Dubai also hosted 481 DBE-supported business events in 2025, compared with 429 the previous year. Major wins included the SIBOS 2029 conference, expected to attract 12,000 delegates, the SPE ATCE Annual Congress 2028 with 8,000 delegates, Apimondia 2027 with 5,000 delegates and the World Engineers Congress 2027 with 3,000 delegates.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Alexander Agafiev

Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

Xsolla, a global video game commerce firm, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC) to bolster the video game industry in the Middle East and North Africa. The collaboration, announced at the GamesBeat Summit 2026 in Los Angeles, aims to provide Dubai-based developers with improved access to international markets and essential infrastructure.

The agreement integrates Xsolla’s suite of commerce tools - including direct-to-consumer storefronts and payment processing systems - with the commission’s mandate to establish Dubai as a global hub for game development and publishing. Key components of the partnership include the launch of a joint studio accelerator program based in Dubai, the co-production of market intelligence regarding the gaming sector, and the creation of pathways to connect regional developers with industry leaders and flagship global events.

Faisal Kazim, Games Commissioner for the DFGC, stated that the initiative is designed to provide local developers with the necessary infrastructure to scale their operations globally. Representatives from Xsolla noted that the investment reflects the region's rapid growth as a video game market and its increasing role in the broader international media and technology sector.

Both organizations have indicated that they expect to release further details regarding specific joint programming and regional activations in the coming months.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Andrew Shelepnytsky

Andrew Shelepnytsky is an Editor of Dubai Voice.

In Dubai, ambition is not confined to its towering skyline; it pulses through the city’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, where startups are reshaping the future. Once a trading outpost, Dubai has become a magnet for entrepreneurs, with Dubai Internet City hosting over 1,600 tech firms, including giants like Microsoft and startups like Careem, acquired for $3.1 billion in 2019. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce reported 500 new businesses registered monthly in 2024, fueled by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which commits $22 billion to make Dubai a top global economic hub by 2033.

This startup surge is deliberate. The Dubai Future District, a dedicated innovation zone, nurtures ventures in AI, fintech, and blockchain, with 2023 seeing $2.5 billion in venture capital inflows, per the Dubai FDI Monitor. Free zones like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offer zero corporate tax for many sectors, attracting over 20,000 multinational companies. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) supports this ecosystem with smart infrastructure, enabling startups to leverage IoT and 5G for real-time solutions, from logistics apps to smart retail platforms.

Dubai’s appeal lies in its global connectivity. In 2023, the city welcomed 16.7 million tourists, per the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, many attending events like GITEX Global, a tech expo drawing 170,000 attendees. These gatherings connect startups with investors, fostering a culture of risk-taking. Yet, challenges persist. High operational costs and a competitive talent market test young companies, though initiatives like the Dubai Future Accelerators, which pair startups with government projects, ease these hurdles.

Dubai’s innovation ecosystem is a bold experiment in blending vision with pragmatism. It invites entrepreneurs to dream big but demands resilience in a fast-paced market. As the city positions itself as a global startup capital, it must ensure inclusivity, supporting local talent alongside international pioneers. For now, Dubai’s innovation hubs hum with possibility, proving that in this desert metropolis, ideas can rise as swiftly as its skyscrapers.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.