by Allen J. Sheinman, Northstar Meetings Group
Why Dubai for Your Next Meeting or Event?
A destination like no other, this fascinating city on the Arabian Peninsula entices groups with its outsize attractions, cutting-edge technology and all things luxurious and breathtaking. Yet even while Dubai sprints into the future, it also preserves its past and gives groups the opportunity to immerse themselves in a rich history and culture.
Only in Dubai
Expo City Dubai, a sustainability-themed city of the future blooming on the site of Expo 2020, is filled with educational, cultural, retail and entertainment offerings. Most recently, the venue unveiled three stories of exhibits that pay tribute to the 200-plus nations and international organizations that took part in the landmark expo. Here is the history of how the show developed its various districts, devoted to opportunity, imagination, sustainability and more, with updated features and attractions such as Our Wonderful World, which takes visitors on a curated tour of country highlights that celebrate humankind’s relationship with nature. The site also is home to the Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Travel Essentials
Taxes: 10% service charge; 7% municipality fee; 5% VAT
Convention Centers
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre: The 1.3-million-square-foot venue is the largest dedicated events space in the region, located in the heart of the city and home to most of Dubai’s major exhibitions and trade shows, as well as a steady calendar of international conferences and congresses.
Dubai Exhibition Centre: Part of the Expo 2020 legacy and located within Expo City Dubai, the venue’s 45,000 square meters (468,000 square feet) of exhibition space is spread across two campuses (including a theater, auditorium, several multipurpose halls and four suites); the facility also offers 24 meeting rooms.
Visa Information: Can be found here, including a list of countries whose citizens get 30-day and 90-day visas on arrival.
Local Currency: UAE dirham (AED); US$1 equals about AED 3.67
Power: Standard voltage, 220V; standard frequency, 50 Hz
Time Zone: Gulf Standard Time (four hours ahead of UTC, formerly know as Greenwich Mean Time)
Transportation in & Around the Area
Dubai International Airport, about 15 km (10 miles) from the city center. Transfer cost by taxi starts at about US$11.
The airport enjoyed a banner year in 2022, with annual traffic exceeding 66 million passengers. This represents a 127 percent increase over 2021 figures. India retained its position as the top destination country for DXB by passenger volume, with a total traffic of 9.8 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with 4.9 million, the United Kingdom with 4.6 million, Pakistan with 3.7 million and the United States with 3 million passengers.
Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, about 55 km (34 miles) from the city center. Transfer cost by taxi starts at about US$34.
