Dubai’s exhibitions and business events segment is witnessing a mega boom, reportedly contributing about AED 25.03 billion in economic output last year. Driven by top venues like the Dubai Exhibition Centre and the DWTC (Dubai World Trade Centre), big trade shows drew 2.18 million attendees, inclusive of close to 947,000 global visitors.
More interestingly, foreign visitors spent approximately (average) more than AED 9,900 for each event, more than almost seven times the money spent by local attendees. They also stayed for an average of 5.6 days per event, while some even extended their stays for work, leisure and other purposes. This has led to higher demand for both short and long-stay aparthotels in Dubai. Let us understand how this segment is driving demand for serviced apartments in the city.
Mapping Key Serviced Apartment Trends in Relation to Business Events/Exhibitions
Serviced apartments have seen a direct increase in demand due to business events and exhibitions in Dubai. The top sectors include food and beverages (including mega events like Gulfood), healthcare/medical and ICT and emerging technologies (including flagships such as GITEX Global). Interestingly, apartments in prime areas usually witness 80-90% occupancy in peak event weeks, often outperforming regular hotels easily.
Let us look at the key trends that illustrate this growth:
- High-Volume Calendar: Dubai hosts more than 1,500 leading global trade shows, conferences and business events annually, drawing more than 5 million participants as per rough estimates.
- MICE Share: Conferences and exhibitions manage to capture about 32% of the broader event management revenues in the UAE, which is heavily centered in Dubai itself.
- Sectoral Expansion: The regional aparthotel and serviced apartment segment is also growing at 11.2% annually (approximate estimates).
- Huge Occupancy Rates: Prime zones like Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay easily achieve 80-90% occupancy during key exhibition seasons.
- Extended Stays: Corporate visitors who are attending multi-day exhibitions usually stretch their average trip lengths by 30%. This helps them combine remote work with business travel and leisure itineraries.
Why Corporates Prefer Dubai Serviced Apartments for Events/Exhibitions
There is a clear need for tailored business accommodation in Dubai to cater to business travellers, corporates and event attendees. Here are some reasons why they prefer serviced apartments for their stays:
- Affordability: Corporate teams booking delegations for major events/expos usually prefer multi-room serviced apartments over booking multiple hotel rooms. All-inclusive rates (covering utilities, Wi-Fi and housekeeping) help save money, along with discounts for extended stays. Kitchens and in-unit laundry also help save on costs.
- Home-Like Comfort & Infrastructure: Serviced units come with high-speed Wi-Fi and in-unit laundry along with kitchen facilities to cook meals. Plush furnishings, cookware, appliances and all other necessities are present. This caters to professionals living and working remotely during extended trade or business events.
- Growth in Inventory: Serviced and luxury apartments are steadily dominating the Dubai active hospitality pipeline, enabling more options for corporates.
- Dedicated Workspaces: Separate living and working areas allow attendees to prepare for presentations, host impromptu meets/syncs and keep the bedroom separate from these activities.
- High-Speed Connectivity: Strong Wi-Fi setups ensure better connectivity, virtual meetings, remote collaboration and heavy data usage.
- Extended Stay Value: There are flexible short and long-term leases available for maximum convenience (often extendable), while per-night rates often come down more favourably for week-long or multi-week exhibition schedules (as compared to cramped hotel rooms).
- Hotel-Like Services: Most units offer housekeeping, concierge support, 24/7 security and on-site amenities like pools and fitness centres.
- Strategic Locations: Many properties are located near major convention districts or transit points.
Where to Stay for Business Events and Exhibitions in Dubai
There are several well-known neighbourhoods where you can book short or long-stay aparthotels in Dubai for exhibitions and events. Some of the top recommendations include:
- Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai offers great connectivity through the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station (Red Line), while the Dubai World Trade Centre is just 10-15 minutes away by taxi. The Dubai Opera is nearby, along with several co-working spaces and premium retail outlets. The Dubai Water Canal, Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are also situated in the area, while corporates can enjoy fine dining along the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.
Suitable For: High-profile corporate events/conferences, executive stays and those looking to combine business and premium networking.
- Business Bay
Business Bay offers seamless connectivity through the Business Bay metro station (Red Line) and several bus routes. Downtown and the DWTC are both accessible within 10 minutes. Several hotel convention spaces are situated here, along with fitness clubs and corporate business centres. The Opus by Zaha Hadid and the Dubai Water Canal are also situated in the area, along with global bistros, hip cafes and vibrant bars in Al Habtoor City.
Suitable For: Mid-to-senior corporate visitors looking for more value near the city centre.
- Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
DIFC offers great access through the Financial Centre metro station (Red Line), while being next to Downtown. It is also less than five minutes from the DWTC, which is just one metro stop away. The area is home to several private members’ clubs, executive boardrooms, lounges and fine dining options (Gate Village is home to multiple Michelin-starred eateries). The Museum of the Future is also located nearby.
Suitable For: Legal, finance and corporate technology professionals attending major summits.
- Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT)
A top choice for business accommodation in Dubai, this stretch is home to several meeting facilities and offers quick access to Expo City. There are multiple metro stations (Sobha Realty and DMCC) for swift access, along with the Dubai Tram network. It will take visitors only 20-25 minutes to reach the DWTC and 15 minutes to reach the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC). The neighbourhood is also home to several co-working spaces with marina views, wellness clubs and landmarks like the Bluewaters Island and Dubai Marina Walk.
Suitable For: Exhibitors and attendees coming for events in the southern corridor or seeking a waterfront lifestyle.
Conclusion
For verified apartment listings catering to business event/exhibition attendees, TheSqua.re is worth considering for its diverse range of options. However, it is always important to book apartments in advance to avoid the peak rush in the build-up to any leading event or expo. This not only ensures better apartment availability, but also more competitive rates.
