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is the largest multipurpose hall in the Middle East . ADNEC Group also has its own organising arm , Capital Events which facilitated the Global Media Congress last year , and the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition ( ADIFE ), which witnessed the signing of deals and MoUs valued more than Dhs3.2 bn .
If you want to browse the full gamut of venues in the emirate , then go to the Visit Abu Dhabi website and explore the 120 listings .
Visitors are certainly voting with their feet . DCT Abu Dhabi said that in H1 2022 , the emirate ’ s hotels received 1.84m visitors , an increase of 22 % year-on-year , while occupancy rates rose to 70 %.
Connectivity In terms of air connectivity , Abu Dhabi is served by its flag carrier Etihad as well as by budget airlines , including Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi , while Abu Dhabi International Airport is an ultra-modern hub fitted with facial recognition and biometric technology .
Etihad was awarded the World ’ s Best MICE Airline at the World MICE Awards 2022 and the airline partners with ADCEB to support the Advantage Abu Dhabi initiative designed to incentivise MICE business with complimentary tickets provided a certain number are booked . MICE travellers and international booking
agencies can also tap into rewards via the MICE Agency Reward Scheme .
ADCEB and Abu Dhabi-based Miral run the Business Event Fund that targets assistance to business events and corporate groups of over 500 attendees . It has also partnered with global MICE associations including ICCA , PCMA , UFI , IAEE , SITE and MPI .
The agency was also the driving force behind the Abu Dhabi Business Events Week in 2021 which was designed as a platform for MICE industry professionals to collaborate and exchange best practices via panel discussions , workshops , and networking sessions . The second edition of the event was held between 26-27 September last year and covered topics including bidding strategies , sustainability and digital disruption .
New thinking for the future Post-Covid , the MICE industry has to present a new value proposition embracing many issues , while offering authentic experiences and bleisure ( business plus leisure ) to appeal to both corporates and international associations . In meeting these demands , DCT Abu Dhabi has created a list of seven authentic Emirati cultural experiences for visitors . They include visits to local food markets , sampling local cuisine and visiting farms and ranches .
Of course , some familiar and popular
attractions still weave their magic for MICE visitors too : Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Marina Circuit are big pulls which also offer modern business centres and hotels .
And if you want a unique backdrop for your business event why not consider the Louvre Abu Dhabi , Manarat Al Saadiyat and Qasr Al Watan . For high-end gatherings there are private resorts and islands to consider such as Zaya Nurai Island .
The UAE has committed to a Net Zero target by 2050 and indeed was the first in the Middle East to sign the Paris Agreement .
Abu Dhabi is home to the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) and Corporate Conscious Choices is an environmentally focused loyalty programme available through the national CVB , offering corporates the opportunity to offset travel , invest in sustainable aviation fuel and promote sustainable activities .
The policy of raising professional standards in hospitality continues apace and , in June 2022 , ADCEB signed a strategic partnership with the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence ( SITE ) to enable employees to receive a professional certification and year-round access to SITE ’ s dedicated incentive travel events and conferences .
The MICE momentum in Abu Dhabi is clearly back in the fast lane .
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