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A sustainable & responsible host Global organisers are increasingly seeking destinations aligned with sustainability and ESG goals and Dubai has put this at the heart of its tourism and events strategy. The Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative, launched in 2016, established 19 mandatory sustainability requirements for hotels, covering carbon, energy, and water management as well as staff training and community engagement. By 2024, 153 hotels had earned the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp, a 118 % increase on the inaugural cycle.
Meanwhile, the Carbon Calculator tracks real-time emissions across the hospitality sector, helping hotels reduce their environmental footprint. The Dubai Can campaign has eliminated more than 30m single-use plastic bottles in three years, while Dubai Reef, one of the world’ s largest artificial reef developments, underscores the emirate’ s commitment to conservation. For associations under pressure to prove their sustainability credentials, these initiatives mean every event in Dubai contributes to a greener future. For organisers, this ensures sustainability goals are not an afterthought but an integral legacy outcome of hosting in Dubai.
Enterprise in action Dubai’ s long-term vision is clear: events must leave behind more than economic surpluses. They must contribute to industries and inspire enterprise.
Take SIBOS 2029, which will bring 12,000 financial leaders into a city already ranked first globally for AI and robotics foreign direct investment. Or the 2026 ISUOG World Congress, which will convene 2,000 specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology, directly engaging with Dubai’ s healthcare priorities. Token2049, also in 2026, expected to attract 15,000 delegates, reinforces Dubai’ s positioning as a blockchain and Web3 hub.
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This is not coincidence. Many associations that first came for a single congress have since established regional offices via the Dubai Association Centre, which now supports over 80 organisations. Through DBE’ s flagship Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme, more than 370 local leaders from academia, government, and business help ensure events align with sectoral priorities and create enduring outcomes.
A city aligned with ambition Underlying all of this is Dubai’ s economic agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the economy by 2033 through innovation, advanced industries, and talent development. Business events are central to this strategy. They bring global expertise into contact with local institutions,
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Above: Burj Khalifa
Left: Dubai Can
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accelerate knowledge transfer, and embed long-term collaborations.
Dubai’ s pro-business environment including 100 % foreign ownership policies, a hyper-connected logistics ecosystem, and a stable regulatory framework makes it more than just a host. It is a launchpad for organisations seeking growth in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Supporting this, beyond logistics, DBE works with organisers to connect them with universities, accelerators, and policymakers, ensuring that content is aligned with national priorities and that every event leaves a measurable legacy. In this way, the legacies of individual conferences and congresses are directly linked to the wider economic and social ambitions of the emirate.
More than a destination What sets Dubai apart is its ability to merge global ambition with local delivery. Cvent ranks the city number one in the Middle East and Africa, while ICCA recognises it as a destination with unmatched delegate engagement across attendance and number of meetings hosted. These accolades are borne out in practice: here, meetings are not isolated milestones but catalysts for enterprise.
With DBE acting as both partner and enabler, organisers know they gain more than flawless execution, they gain a strategic ally invested in ensuring that legacy is measured not just in delegate numbers, but in enterprises, partnerships, and innovation.
For organisers, that means confidence in flawless delivery. For associations, it means a chance to amplify mission and influence. And for delegates, it means an experience that blends business with culture, sustainability with innovation, and connections with opportunity.
As the industry looks to redefine legacy, Dubai is offering a blueprint: events that build futures, not just fill schedules. EW
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Issue 5 2025 39 |