The Middle East


The changing fortunes of this region as a destination for business events and as a source of demand for meetings were affected by the volatility in the Middle East caused by the Arab Spring in 2011, which saw the number of tourists in the region as a whole drop by 7 percent in 2011, according to VisaVue Travel Data. But throughout these events, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as a safe haven in the region and continued to attract international visitors.


Data from the IBTM Global Research - GIBTM Middle East Industry Research Report suggest that the rebound from political turmoil will continue in the coming year, as suggested by the following tables. While a greater percentage of Middle Eastern buyers reported running a smaller volume of events in the past 12 months, compared to the proportion of global buyers as a whole, far greater percentages of the Middle Eastern buyers indicated that the volume of – and budgets for – meetings and events would be rising next year.


Volume of events in the LAST 12 months


Middle East Buyers Global Buyers


Volume of events in the NEXT 12 months


Middle East Buyers Global Buyers


Budget in the NEXT 12 months


Middle East Buyers Global Buyers


More


48.2% 47.2%


More


64.5% 56.4%


More


53.7% 46.4%


GIBTM Middle East Industry Research Report


In the region, investment in meetings industry infrastructure continues unabated, with one of the most recent examples being Abu Dhabi’s Desert Island Resort & Spa by Anantara, which is boosting its meetings credentials with a new conference centre offering a range of meeting rooms and event venues. Looking ahead, the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is currently under construction and due for completion in late 2015. Meanwhile, in its first year of operation, the Qatar National Convention Centre was presented with the award for the Middle East’s Leading Convention and Exhibition Centre at the 2012 World Travel Awards in Dubai.


Reed Exhibitions | EIBTM Trends Watch Report 2012 16 Same


27.3% 35.9%


Same


27.1% 34.2%


Same


35.2% 39.5%


Less


24.5% 16.9%


Less


8.4% 9.4%


Less


11.1% 14.1%


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