Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Celebrates Record Year

November 27, 2015

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and they have quite a bit to celebrate. The number of events hosted in the Middle East by ADNEC grew from just 14 in 2005 to 327 at the end of 2014.

The number of visitors grew from 50,000 in 2005 to 1.6 million in 2014. That adds up to more than 10.7 million visitors over 10 years.

ADNEC’s impact on Abu Dhabi's economy is significant. Numbers at the end of Q3 2015 are at AED1.835billion (close to $500 million), up from the original projection of AED1.7billion ($460 million).

Major events hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre include the World Future Energy Summit (ADSW 2015), which attracted 30,000 participants and visitors from 170 countries making it one of the biggest and most important global events in the renewable energy sector.

The International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2015 attracted 1,200 local and international defense manufacturers and contractors along with more than 101,000 visitors from all over the world. IDEX is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the MENA region.

The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) attracts more than 2000 exhibitors and more than 85,000 attendees from 117 countries during the four-day event.

However, ADNEC is not just looking to host trade shows and exhibitions in the energy and defense sectors.

The “Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030” identifies 12 economic sectors they anticipate will form the Emirate’s engines of growth and diversification. Those sectors are Energy – Oil & Gas; Petrochemicals; Metals; Aviation, Aerospace, & Defense; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, & Life Sciences; Tourism; Healthcare Equipment & Services; Transportation, Trade, & Logistics; Education; Media; Financial Services; and Telecommunication Services.

Abu Dhabi is positioned well geographically for show organizers looking for an international location to host their event. Half the world is just four hours away by plane and the Abu Dhabi International Airport now serves over 93 destinations and over 40 airlines. Expansion of the airport currently is underway. The city also has over 26,000 hotel rooms that serve almost every budget.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, acting group chief executive officer at ADNEC, said that ADNEC is not simply looking to attract exhibitions to their venue, but is committed to helping organizers grow successful events in the region.

    One U.S.-based association that has experienced that commitment is The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). SEMA held their four-day 2015 SEMA Middle East Program, a trade-only event, as part of the biggest custom cars and bikes show in the Middle East, the Custom Show Emirates.

Linda Spencer, director, international and government relations at SEMA, said, “(ADNEC is) very easy to work with. We do shows around the world, and it’s one of the easiest places to do business.”

The National Exhibition Center features 73,000 square meters of interconnected column-free space including an Atrium and Concourse. There is also outdoor space including a grandstand and marina (an additional 19,500sqm waterfront space), which connects directly to the exhibition center. The marine center was in use during ADIPEC this year allowing exhibitors to showcase some of their marine equipment.

Sustainability and protection of the environment are important to ADNEC, and they are a member of the UFI Sustainability Development Committee. As part of their sustainability effort, ADNEC is constantly developing new systems and procedures that allow them to minimize the impact exhibitions have on the environment.

In 2014, ADNEC recycled more than 107 tons of recyclable materials, reducing more than 183 tons of carbon emission. 39 tons of paper was recycled, reducing about 51 tons of carbon emissions.

ADNEC also creates bio-diesel fuel (550 gallons of Bio-Diesel in 2014) from food grease, which it then uses to power some of the vehicles used at the convention center.

ADNEC also has a compost machine that has produced 18.061 tons of compost since its installation in 2014. They will be introducing a liquid food compost machine at the end of November that will turn food waste into a compost tea to fertilize green spaces.

ADNEC is a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC’s venue portfolio includes Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and the U.K. capital exhibition and conference venue, ExCeL London, and Al Ain Convention Centre in Al Ain.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact