Dubai Announces $2.7B Expansion of Expo City Exhibition Centre

The government of Dubai approved an expansion plan for the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, which will make it the largest purpose-built indoor events venue in the region. The upgrades are expected to cost $2.7 billion (AED10 billion), and will be completed in three phases.

"We are committed to consolidating Dubai's status as a global leader in the events and exhibitions sector and the top destination for mega events," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. "Our events provide platforms for connecting people, ideas and opportunities from across the globe."

Phase one of the expansion, which is expected to be completed in 2026, will more than double the Dubai Exhibition Centre's total exhibit space to 1.5 million square feet. The second phase is set to debut in 2028 with an additional 20,000 square feet of exhibition space, along with improvements to the infrastructure, road networks and parking.

The third and final phase is scheduled to finish in 2031. It will increase the total exhibit space to 1.9 million square feet with 26 exhibit halls on one level. Also included in the final phase will be a 300-room hotel, retail outlets, commercial offices and an industrial kitchen.

The mulit-year expansion project will enable Dubai to double the number of large-scale events it can host annually, from 300 in 2023 to more than 600 by 2033. It is part of an ambitious economic plan to grow Dubai's economy and positioning as a leading global hub. 

"The expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre has been strategically planned to align with the visionary goals of Expo City Dubai, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the recently announced expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, which is set to become the world's largest once fully operational," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, CEO of Emirates Airline and chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority.