Dubai is poised to solidify its position as a premier global hub for business-to-business events with a new initiative leveraging its most prominent trade shows. Gulfood, GITEX Global, and the Dubai Airshow are central to this plan, which aims to create a robust B2B events platform. This platform, called inD, is forecast to generate significant revenue and enhance Dubai’s reputation as a center for innovation and trade.
Partnership and Expansion
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Informa Group have partnered to launch inD, consolidating over 40 major B2B event brands. The portfolio spans several key sectors including food and beverage, technology, aviation, healthcare, energy, and cybersecurity, and includes flagship events like Gulfood and GITEX.
Geographic Reach
inD’s operations will extend beyond the UAE, encompassing India, Turkey, Egypt, and Bahrain, creating a wide-reaching network for B2B engagement and industry collaboration. The CEO of DWTC, Helal Saeed Almarri, emphasized that this move will boost Dubai’s standing as a global nexus for B2B events and knowledge sharing.
Infrastructure Boost
This initiative aligns with the substantial expansion of Dubai’s exhibition infrastructure. The Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) is set to add 140,000 square meters of event space in 2026. This expansion is expected to alleviate overcrowding and parking challenges, enabling larger and more impactful trade shows.
Gulfood 2026: A Landmark Event
The first inD-branded event will be Gulfood 2026, scheduled from January 26–30. This show will be hosted across both the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and DEC. Gulfood 2026 expects to welcome more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries and display 1.5 million products.