hosting it in November 2021 . ( The Jumeirah organisation has been running the Luxemburg Pavilion at Expo2020 , an example of how local hoteliers have been sharing their hospitality experience ).

New impetus for promotion The recent merging of Dubai ’ s tourism and economy departments into Dubai ’ s Department of Economy and Tourism is designed to give new impetus to promoting the destination . Steen Jakobsen , assistant vice-president , Dubai Business Events , which forms part of the consolidated organisation , says : “ We have even stronger ambitions with this new department . Raising our global competitiveness requires new ways of thinking , and this merger is testament to our outlook to the future .”

He anticipates visitor numbers increasing to 25m by 2025 and expects the emirate to attract 400 global economic events by that year , too .

The CVB is now sitting squarely as part of the government ’ s economic strategy effort .

Accent on safety , growth and knowledge The accent on safety and reliability is strong , with the authorities having launched the Dubai Assured Stamp and the Safe Travels Stamp .

Jakobsen says the strategy is to not only grow Dubai ’ s share of global major events but to develop home-grown ones , and support key sectors .

The DEC hosted the recent Dubai Association Conference , 21 February 2022 , an event that provided a strong platform to show the emirate ’ s progress along the road to becoming a knowledge-based economy .

The Dubai Association Centre ( DAC ) is a further illustration of this strategy . The DAC can host associations ’ regional offices . To date , 70 of them have taken advantage of various incentives to do just that . The hub nature of Dubai means that the DAC can also act as a

gateway to Asia and Africa .

Clearly Dubai is leading the way in the Middle East for business events , with its new strategy and vision all backed up by the existing and high-quality critical mass of hotels and venues .

Dubai also can offer an attractive and broad range of activities to appeal to event planners and incentives groups . And I can fully vouch for the appeal of Platinum Heritage ’ s desert safari as one exciting option for exploring the culture and heritage aspects of the emirate . The business environment is made even more attractive by the emirate ’ s free-trade zones and favourable taxation policies .

DEWA Solar Park Dubai is focusing clearly on tomorrow and harnessing science and invention to drive its economy . I visited two of the key projects that stand testimony to these grand ambitions being realised .

DEWA Solar Park is a global hub for renewable and clean energy innovation expects to contribute to shaping the global future of sustainable energy . It is the largest single-site solar park in the world and located at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority ’ s ( DEWA ’ s ) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and Innovation Centre . The UAE has put its money where its mouth is to the tune of AED50bn ( US $ 13.61bn ) for a project now in its third phase . It was a phase inaugurated last November by Sheikh Mohammed himself and the facility is on track to deliver a total capacity of 5,000MW by 2030 .

The project will feature the world ’ s tallest solar power tower ( 262m ).

The Innovation Centre supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 , which aims to provide 75 % of Dubai ’ s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050 .

And DEWA Solar Park can provide a spectacular backdrop for that big

“ The future belongs to those who can imagine it , design it , and execute it . It isn ’ t something you await , but rather create ...” - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

event , as the Centre houses an auditorium and there is plenty of local expertise available on solar power , renewable energy , and other green initiatives if speakers are required .

Space Centre While DEWA is helping to harness the power of the Sun , innovation ad astram is in full swing at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre ( MBRSC ). Founded in 2006 , the centre is home to the UAE National Space Programme . The centre builds and operates earth observation satellites and has launched DubaiSat-1 , DubaiSat-2 and also KalifaSat from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan . And , while the early space programmes were joint ventures , KhalifaSat was developed 100 % in the UAE .

The centre is also developing the Emirates Mars Mission and the Mars Hope Probe , the Arab world ’ s first interplanetary mission . It is also working on the development of the Mars 2117 project , a vision to build a human colony on the Red Planet .

Hazzaa Al Mansoori , the first Emirati astronaut , visited the International Space Station in September 2019 .

The MBRSC ’ s goal is also to develop advanced technology for wider use in the UAE and it hosted The International Astronautical Congress ( IAC 2021 ) at DWTC in October 2021 , the first time the event was held in the Middle East . It attracted 6,500 delegates from 110 countries .

Dubai Future Foundation Dubai has also set up a foundation concentrated on future vision . The Dubai Future Foundation houses not only some of the best minds in the region , but is home to start ups and incubators where new technology across a spectrum of sectors is being designed and tested . A number of its Smart City initiatives have already been adopted by the Dubai authorities .