The expansion plan, approved by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai in September, will establish DEC as the region’s largest indoor events venue.
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has begun the first phase of construction to expand the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai, following the completion of enabling works and piling contracts. The project aims to increase Dubai’s capacity to host large-scale events from 300 to 600 annually by 2033.
The first phase will add 64,000sq m of permanent exhibition halls and 30,000sq m of temporary halls to the existing 46,000sq m, bringing the total capacity to 140,000sq m by 2026. The venue will accommodate 50,000 visitors daily.
Amer Al Farsi, Acting Vice President of Real Estate Development at Dubai World Trade Centre added: “The DEC expansion is a pivotal step towards the future of Dubai’s flagship mega exhibitions and events. The first phase alone will increase our purpose-built indoor event hosting capacity to 140,000sq m. The venue is designed to elevate both the exhibitor and visitor experience while embedding sustainability into every aspect of its design and operations. Beyond its physical footprint, this development serves as a catalyst to redefine the global events industry, with Dubai leading the way.”
