DWTC Accommodation Hosts Almost a Million Visitors in a Record-Breaking Year
DWTC Hospitality, the catering and hospitality division of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has experienced remarkable growth over the past two years. In 2024, the division catered to a multitude of events, serving nearly one million guests across over 2,400 events.
Notable events in 2024 included Gulfood, The Hotel Show, and the 4th Accessible Travel and Tourism International Conference, all held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). These events established DWTC as a premier global hospitality platform.
The growth continued into the first half of 2025, with DWTC Hospitality serving over half a million guests across 1,401 events. Exhibition catering more than doubled year-on-year, serving over 132,000 guests. This significant expansion and improved capacity compared to the previous year indicate a strong growth trajectory for DWTC Hospitality.
In addition to the major events, DWTC Hospitality played a key role in several prestigious regional events, including Gulfood, World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai, Arabian Travel Market, GITEX Global, and GITEX Africa. Key conferences such as the WCA Worldwide Conference, AWS MENA Summit 2024, and The International Congress of Endocrinology also contributed to the growth of the conference and association segment.
The Dubai International Boat Show and the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were among the major events that experienced growth in off-site catering. DWTC Hospitality successfully managed 150 weddings, serving more than 63,000 guests. The Jafza One Convention Centre (JOCC) doubled its attendance to over 25,000 guests.
The Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) catered to over 73,000 attendees, and the division as a whole catered to over 400,000 attendees at corporate and private events. The Dubai World Cup was one of the major events that contributed to the growth of off-site catering.
Mahir Julfar, the Executive Vice President at DWTC, led the division in reinforcing its reputation for excellence in the industry. The growth experienced by DWTC Hospitality in 2024 and 2025 demonstrates the division's commitment to providing top-tier hospitality services to a diverse range of events.
| Year | Major Events Catered at DWTC (examples) | Performance Highlight | |-------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2024 | Gulfood, The Hotel Show, Accessible Travel Conference | Base year for growth; hosted influential international events | | 2025 H1 | 1401 events served, 500K+ guests, exhibition catering doubled YoY | More than doubled exhibition guests served compared to 2024, indicating strong growth and improved hospitality services |
This shows DWTC Hospitality's performance in 2024 formed the foundation for a significantly enhanced output in 2025. The division's continued growth and success are a testament to its dedication to providing exceptional hospitality services.
