DWTC Hospitality achieved record-breaking results in 2025, serving 1.28 million guests across 2,578 events - representing a significant 37% increase from 930,000 guests in 2024.
The latest annual
results for the hospitality division of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC),
released, help to solidify its position as the region's leading provider of
large-scale and bespoke catering services for government, corporate and private
sector clients.
The results reflect DWTC Hospitality's expanding footprint across the region’s events landscape, from major international exhibitions and high-level conferences to exclusive weddings and off-site occasions. Operations spanned DWTC's flagship venues - including Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) and Jafza One Convention Centre (JOCC) - alongside external events, locations and private venues throughout the United Arab Emirates.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “DWTC
Hospitality plays a key role in supporting Dubai’s dynamic events and business
tourism ecosystem, delivering exceptional experiences through world-class
service.
Our strength lies in
operating at scale while maintaining the precision and service quality expected
of a leading global destination. Hospitality today extends far beyond catering,
encompassing trusted execution and seamless delivery across the entire event
journey. As we continue investing in our people, infrastructure and multi-venue
capabilities, alongside the expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre, we are well
positioned to support the next phase of growth in the region’s mega events
landscape and further enhance Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s leading
events destinations.”
Exhibition Catering Doubles Amid Mega Event Expansion
Exhibition catering emerged as the standout
performer in 2025, with guest numbers surging to over 240,000 - more than
double the 120,000 served in 2024. The growth was driven by the expansion of
DWTC's flagship exhibitions including Gulfood, World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai,
Arabian Travel Market, and GITEX Global. International operations also
contributed, with DWTC Hospitality supporting GITEX Africa in Morocco,
demonstrating the division's capability to deliver world-class catering across
borders.
Conference, Associations and Business Meetings Catering Reaches New Heights
The conferences, associations and business
meetings segment delivered exceptional results, serving over 123,000 attendees
in 2025. The growth underscores Dubai's rising appeal for international
business meetings, with DWTC Hospitality providing premium catering that meets
the exacting standards of global organisations and industry leaders.
Corporate and
Private Events Show Sustained Momentum
DWTC Hospitality catered to over 600,000 guests across corporate and private events in 2025, up from 400,000 guests in 2024. The wedding segment remained a key focus area, serving 56,554 guests, further demonstrating the division’s ability to deliver personalised experiences alongside large-scale event catering.
Venue Portfolio Expansion Supports Growth Trajectory
DEC and Jafza One Convention Centre both contributed significantly to 2025 results, with over 80,000 guests catered to, across both venues. The multi-venue approach enables DWTC Hospitality to accommodate growing event calendars whilst maintaining service quality across all locations.
Off-Site Operations Deliver Strong Year-on-Year Growth
Off-site operations continued to drive strong growth, with external catering increasing by 12% to serve over 160,000 guests across 1,211 events. The division supported a portfolio of high-profile engagements including the Dubai International Boat Show, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Dubai World Cup, MEBAA Show, in addition to catering for events at Ain Dubai.
“Moving forward, we will continue to raise the benchmark for event hospitality across the region, added Julfar. “As Dubai’s events industry becomes more sophisticated and globally competitive, the role of hospitality becomes even more integral to overall event success. We are focused on building long-term partnerships with organisers, investing in culinary talent and innovation, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
By doing so, we are strengthening the foundations for the next decade of growth and ensuring that every event we support contributes meaningfully to Dubai’s position as a world-class hub for business and beyond.” DWTC Hospitality serves 1.28m guests at 2,578 events in 2025
DWTC Hospitality
achieved record-breaking results in 2025, serving 1.28 million guests across
2,578 events - representing a significant 37% increase from 930,000 guests in
2024.
The latest annual
results for the hospitality division of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC),
released, help to solidify its position as the region's leading provider of
large-scale and bespoke catering services for government, corporate and private
sector clients.
The results reflect DWTC Hospitality's expanding footprint across the region’s
events landscape, from major international exhibitions and high-level
conferences to exclusive weddings and off-site occasions. Operations spanned
DWTC's flagship venues - including Dubai International Convention and
Exhibition Centre (DICEC), Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) and Jafza One
Convention Centre (JOCC) - alongside external events, locations and private
venues throughout the United Arab Emirates.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “DWTC
Hospitality plays a key role in supporting Dubai’s dynamic events and business
tourism ecosystem, delivering exceptional experiences through world-class
service.
Our strength lies in
operating at scale while maintaining the precision and service quality expected
of a leading global destination. Hospitality today extends far beyond catering,
encompassing trusted execution and seamless delivery across the entire event
journey. As we continue investing in our people, infrastructure and multi-venue
capabilities, alongside the expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre, we are well
positioned to support the next phase of growth in the region’s mega events
landscape and further enhance Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s leading
events destinations.”
Exhibition Catering Doubles Amid Mega Event Expansion
Exhibition catering emerged as the standout performer in 2025, with guest numbers surging to over 240,000 - more than double the 120,000 served in 2024. The growth was driven by the expansion of DWTC's flagship exhibitions including Gulfood, World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai, Arabian Travel Market, and GITEX Global. International operations also contributed, with DWTC Hospitality supporting GITEX Africa in Morocco, demonstrating the division's capability to deliver world-class catering across borders.
Conference, Associations and Business Meetings Catering Reaches New Heights
The conferences, associations and business
meetings segment delivered exceptional results, serving over 123,000 attendees
in 2025. The growth underscores Dubai's rising appeal for international
business meetings, with DWTC Hospitality providing premium catering that meets
the exacting standards of global organisations and industry leaders.
Corporate and
Private Events Show Sustained Momentum
DWTC Hospitality catered to over 600,000 guests across corporate and private events in 2025, up from 400,000 guests in 2024. The wedding segment remained a key focus area, serving 56,554 guests, further demonstrating the division’s ability to deliver personalised experiences alongside large-scale event catering.
Venue Portfolio Expansion Supports Growth Trajectory
DEC and Jafza One Convention Centre both contributed significantly to 2025 results, with over 80,000 guests catered to, across both venues. The multi-venue approach enables DWTC Hospitality to accommodate growing event calendars whilst maintaining service quality across all locations.
Off-Site Operations Deliver Strong Year-on-Year Growth
Off-site operations continued to drive strong growth, with external catering increasing by 12% to serve over 160,000 guests across 1,211 events. The division supported a portfolio of high-profile engagements including the Dubai International Boat Show, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Dubai World Cup, MEBAA Show, in addition to catering for events at Ain Dubai.
“Moving forward, we will continue to raise the benchmark for event hospitality across the region, added Julfar. “As Dubai’s events industry becomes more sophisticated and globally competitive, the role of hospitality becomes even more integral to overall event success. We are focused on building long-term partnerships with organisers, investing in culinary talent and innovation, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
By doing so, we are strengthening the foundations for the next decade of growth and ensuring that every event we support contributes meaningfully to Dubai’s position as a world-class hub for business and beyond.” -TradeArabia News Service