ADNEC celebrates its best year yet for association events
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is having an excellent year for international association events with more booked for 2024 and beyond.
The word is out, the multi-award winning ADNEC provides everything an international association event requires from excellent connectivity, flexible event space and professional end-to-end services.
Topping the 2022 ICCA ranking as ‘number one destination in the Middle East for association meetings’, Abu Dhabi and ADNEC are attracting events from sectors as varied as Medical, Energy, Safety & Security, Financial Services & Commerce, Social Sciences, Transportation, Trade & Logistics and Science & Technology. Events already held this year include the IATA Ground Handling Conference and 34th International Research Conference. Forthcoming events for this year include International Congress on Archives, World Ports Conference and World Investment Forum.
ADNEC is working with local experts and the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau on bids for future years and is particularly keen to identify opportunities in sectors identified for development in the ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ plan, designed to diversify revenue, relying less on oil, and introduce education programmes focused on advanced IT and engineering. More than 19 association bids are currently under consideration.
The 14 international association conferences and five regional association meetings lined up so far for 2024 include the World Environment Education Congress, 13th WTO Ministerial Conference and ICIP – IEEE International Conference on Image Processing and represent sectors including: Economics, Environment & Sustainability, Trade & Logistics, Financial Services & Commerce, Geology, Metals and Mining, Medical, Energy, Information Technology & Communications and Science & Technology.
Sharing knowledge on a world stage
The UAE understands that international association events help to facilitate knowledge sharing among world leaders, support the implementation of best practices and provide a platform for the host to showcase its expertise and innovation on a world stage. They also help to increase membership of regional associations with many benefits including promoting knowledge sharing. Following huge investment in its knowledge economy, Abu Dhabi recognises the impact these events have both in supporting the local economy and internationally.
Working in partnership
With services available from Capital Experience, the venue’s destination management company, it is easy to arrange authentic cultural experiences, excursion programmes and spectacular functions. It also has arrangements in place to offer exclusive pricing from national carrier Etihad.
ADNEC’s professional team prides itself on working with event planners to assist with everything from risk assessment forms to applying for an event license on their behalf.
In addition, ADNEC offers in-house catering, event management, production and AV services as well as a free marketing support package. Its government and protocol department can help with governmental support as well as hosting VIP delegations, government visits, tours and protocol.
In-house agency ADNEC Services has also just signed a strategic partnership with global events management company Kenes. Together they will launch a number of specialised conferences and exhibitions across a range of sectors.
It’s little wonder then that ADNEC is going from strength to strength in hosting association events.
The venue
Just 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, ADNEC offers more than 150,000 sqm of flexible event space, 13 column-free exhibition halls and on-site hotels offering 1,800 rooms.
Ideal for medium to large conferences, its International Convention Centre (ICC) offers two large conference halls and 21 meeting rooms alongside sophisticated banqueting space. The recently-opened Marina Hall offers a 10 m ceiling height and 10,000 sqm of floor space. Large outdoor areas include a Waterfront Quayside and ADNEC Marina.
Its dedicated customer service team prides itself on its experienced event planning, account management and service delivery. The team has helped ensure it is now one of the region’s leading event venues, accommodating conferences of up to 6,000 in the ICC and 12,000 when using combined spaces.
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