Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is readying to boost the emirate’s post-pandemic economic recovery with an unparalleled and action-packed calendar of conferences and exhibition starting next week. After setting new global industry benchmarks in 2020by hosting a series of industry-specific hybrid event formats, the new event season at DWTC boasts a line-up of in-person editions of marquee events including GITEX Global 2021.

“In what has been a challenging year for the international MICE industry, DWTC has led the way in safely reopening international large-scale events. The success of the past year is a testament to our agility, experience and enterprise as well as our long-standing commitment towards firmly positioning Dubai as a world leading MICE destination. We are excited about the upcoming season and presenting the best in business and trade to the world via Dubai,” said Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President, Venue Services Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The DWTC exhibition season will commence with The Big Five,the MENA region’s largest building and construction show, set to take place from September 12-15. For more than 40 years, The Big 5 has united the global construction community to explore opportunities in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The Big 5 will take place live in-person alongside nine specialised events covering the full construction cycle from conception to completion and beyond.

Gastech Conference and Exhibition 2021 and Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition (ATCE): Being held from September 21-23, these two events bring a big focus on Energy and Environment in the region. Gastech, the world’s largest exhibition and conference supporting the gas, LNG, hydrogen, and energy industry takes place for the first time in Dubai and will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. ATCE will feature sessions covering market-leading solutions and emerging technologies within the exploration and production industry.

For 21 years Seamless Middle East has been the pre-eminent meeting place for the brightest and most innovative minds across the payments, fintech, banking, retail, e-commerce, cards and identity industries. Back, bigger and better in 2021, this global two-day conference running September 29-30 will feature over 300 speakers covering the latest trends, market disruptors and technologies shaping the payments, fintech, retail and e-commerce world.

The region’s largest international trade fair for the beauty industry, the 25th anniversary edition of Beautyworld Middle East will take place from October 5 – 7. The show will host exhibitors from 54 countries and 17 dedicated country pavilions, making it the first truly international beauty event of the year.

After pioneering the successful and safe return of live events last year,GITEX Global, featuring the region’s premier technology and start-up events,returns from October 17-21. GITEXTechnology Week and GITEX Future Stars will feature mega tech names from over 100 countries, unveiling their latest cutting edge-technology. GITEX Future Stars will host a variety of aspiring innovators and budding entrepreneurs across different sectors, all of whom will be given unrivalled opportunities to showcase ground-breaking ideas and network with investors, accelerators and incubators.

Taking place alongside GITEX Global, Ai Everything will highlight the biggest cross-sector tech moments during five power-packed days of networking, learning, business generation and inspiration.

Future Blockchain Summit will bring together the community’s brightest minds, most game-changing startups and powerful investors for four days of networking, investing and education centered around the most disruptive technology since the internet – Blockchain. The event will be held from October 17-20.

For the very first time, theInternational Astronautical Congress (IAC): will open its doors to the global space community in the United Arab Emirates, the first Arab country to host the IAC since its establishment in 1950. Being held October 25-29, the 72^ndIAC is being hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) – an IAF member since 2012 – under the theme “Inspire, Innovate & Discover for the Benefit of Humankind”.

Gulfood Manufacturing, the region’s leading F&B processing and packaging event is back from November 7-9 to continue the powerful momentum of doing high-value business, swapping insights and networking in the food production, processing and packaging realms.GFM will be held alongside Private Label and Licensing Middle East 2021, the MENA region’s exclusive exhibition for food and non-food FMCG product mix expansion and brand placement; yummex Middle East, the MENA region’s leading event for the sweets and snacks industry and Speciality Food Festival, the only professional artisanal and gourmet exhibition in the MENA region.

Held in conjunction with the 10th Emirates International Urological Conference of the Emirates Urological Society (EUS) from November 10-14, the 41st Congress of the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) will present a state-of-the-art scientific programme developed by SIU’s Scientific Programme Committee.

With Arab Lab+ serving as an essential annual event for the global laboratory and analytical industry, the 2021 edition will host ArabChem, a new feature with a focus on the chemicals sector. Taking place Nov 15-17, this year’s Arab Lab+ will attract scientific experts, end-users and product and technology specialists.

Being held December 6-8, Gulf Traffic is the region’s largest traffic and transport technology exhibition, where intelligent transport systems and smart technologies top the agenda.

The largest international trade show for the automotive aftermarket and service industry in the MEA region, the 18th edition of Automechanika Dubairuns December 14 – 16. With a host of new and returning features, along with exhibitors from around the world, the 2021 event is a must attend platform to absorb latest market trends and new innovations.

The 40-plus calendar line up also features events such as the Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS), Arabplast, World LPG Week, The 85th General Meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Careers UAE, CABSAT Middle East, Middle East Natural and Organic Products Expo and others.

“As we continue to lead the MICE industry transformation in a post-pandemic world via a robust line up of upcoming events, we are confident DWTC will emerge as a key enabler in achieving Dubai’s vision of garnering further economic growth and diversification,” concluded Julfar.