Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Unite to Launch Informa International

Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Group announced Thursday that they would combine their events operations in the Middle East to create a new entity called Informa International with over $700 million in annual revenues. 

Informa International will take over the running of shows that represent significant profit centers for the partners. They include Gulfood, GITEX, GISEC, WHX, Middle East Energy, and the Dubai Airshow.

Informa International plans to export DWTC’s key brands to India, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Dubai is doubling down on its commitment to the meetings industry. A $2.7 billion (AED 10 billion) expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City is underway. This is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. DWTC owns and operates DEC. In addition to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 aims to double the size of the Emirate’s economy within the next decade. A key pillar of this strategy is tripling the contribution of the MICE industry to Dubai’s GDP, with a target of reaching $14.7 billion (AED 54 billion) by 2033.

Informa International Deal to Close Fourth Quarter of 2025

Completion of the deal is set for the fourth quarter of this year. It plans to be fully operational next year, pending regulatory approvals.

“Combining the respective shows of Informa and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will create the largest organiser of B2B events in the UAE. Next to the Tahaluf joint venture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it gives Informa the top position in the most mature and currently leading business events market in the region. For DWTC, Informa’s global network will accelerate the global rollout of its show brands globally,” said Kai Hattendorf, founder of HTF, an industry consultancy.

Informa has been bullish on the industry. Last year, it acquired Ascential, the company behind the Cannes Lions Festival, and Money20/20, for $1.6 billion. On Thursday, it reported a 23% rise in 2024 adjusted operating profits to $1.28 billion.