The second edition of the Dubai Association Conference, being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council, will take place Dec. 9-10 under the theme of “Driving change: The societal impact of associations.”
Over the course of two days the conference, organized by Dubai Association Centre and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, will bring together association executives from around the world, government representatives, industry leaders, as well as university faculties and students, in a space focused on building the association community in the region for the purpose of positive social impact.
Established in 2014, the Dubai Association Centre is a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre that support and license regional and international associations in setting up an office or chapter in Dubai. The inaugural edition of its Dubai Association Conference took place in December 2017, while DAC last year hosted an association leaders getaway in the city.
“As Dubai continues to grow as a knowledge hub, associations have immense potential for driving growth in our rapidly transforming economy,” says Issam Kazim, chief executive officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. “Along with being a catalyst for business opportunities within a thriving ecosystem, they have the power to fuel innovation and creativity which ultimately contributes to the well-being of our communities, and society.
“Since its establishment, Dubai Association Centre has grown to become a platform for international associations that simultaneously benefit from and contribute to the numerous opportunities Dubai has to offer as a global knowledge and business events hub. We are looking forward to the second edition of the Dubai Association Conference this year to further facilitate our transformation agenda as we work cohesively with key stakeholders to create an ecosystem for associations to prosper.”
Hassan Al Hashemi (pictured left), vice president of international relations at Dubai Chamber, adds, “Dubai has strengthened its reputation as a regional association hub in recent years and global associations are fast realizing the attractive advantages and expansion opportunities that the emirate can offer them. At the same time, Dubai is benefiting from Dubai’s fast-growing association community, as these organizations make a positive contribution to the economy and society by bringing with them best international practices, valuable expertise and international events that support the emirate’s knowledge economy and enhance its long-term competitiveness.”
Al Hashemi notes that DAC has witnessed exponential growth since its establishment and that the second Dubai Association Conference will provide an ideal platform to expand this network and showcase the value proposition that Dubai offers various types of associations from around the world.
Focused on the value and impact associations have on societies through this year’s theme, the conference will explore four sub-themes: Community Well-Being, Knowledge and Research, Business and Opportunity, and Creativity and Innovation.
The key objective of this themed approach is to anchor associations more closely to the respective business sectors and knowledge clusters in which they have the means to generate a positive and sustainable change. In addition, the conference will serve as a platform to facilitate discussions on the value proposition of associations that go beyond direct and indirect economic benefits.
“Dubai has been at the forefront of positioning associations within various sectors to ultimately achieve their highest potential,” says Mahir Julfar, senior vice president of venue services at Dubai World Trade Centre. “Since its inception, the Dubai Association Conference has successfully bridged the gap between like-minded international and regional experts that share a combined passion for transformation, creativity and innovation. We’re honored to have witnessed the evolution of education across industries through intercultural knowledge exchange, which in turn will make an impact on the city’s economy. We look forward to another edition of DAC; one that will help businesses flourish, innovate and encourage key dialogue for those looking to explore business opportunities in the Middle East.”
Since opening in 1979, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has played a central role in the growth of the region’s international trade. With over 1.3 million square feet of covered exhibition space, it is the region’s largest purpose-built events complex, hosting over 500 business events annually and welcoming over 3 million visitors. DWTC serves as a multi-dimensional business catalyst, focusing on venues, exhibitions and event organizing, and real estate management. Most recently, the establishment of the new Dubai World Trade Centre Authority as a Free Zone entity has strengthened DWTC’s ability to deliver a logistically efficient, business-conducive regulatory environment, offering global enterprises a uniquely flexible base from which to service new growth opportunities across continents.For more info, visit www.dwtc.com/en.
