Phase 1 of Dubai Exhibition Centre expansion gets underway

The Dubai World Trade Centre has initiated the first phase of its ambitious expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai.

Enabling works and piling contracts have been completed, with main contract works now underway.

The AED 10 billion expansion, which was approved in September by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will transform DEC into the largest indoor events venue in the region.

Once complete, the expanded centre will enable Dubai to host over 600 large-scale events annually by 2033, doubling the number of exhibitions held each year.

The expansion is part of Dubai’s broader vision to create a new urban hub centred around Expo City, the UAE’s first 15-minute city, and to further boost the city's position as a global leader in business and exhibitions.

Phase 1 of the project is massive in scale, with 515 foundation piles and 14,000 tonnes of structural steel, and will add 64,000 square metres of permanent exhibition halls, plus 30,000 square metres of temporary space.

The expanded DEC will accommodate up to 50,000 visitors daily by 2026, with the facility also incorporating sustainability measures, including LEED certification.

The expansion is expected to significantly boost Dubai's multi-billion-dollar MICE industry, tripling its economic contribution to AED 54 billion annually by 2033.

A team of internationally renowned consultants, including Mace and Egis, have been appointed to manage the first phase of expansion.