Up to three million visitors from 185 countries were received by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in 2016, marking an annual growth of 11 per cent, a top executive at DWTC was quoted as saying by Emirates news agency Wam.

Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, vice president, DWTC, said that more than 51,000 exhibitors, 70 of whom represent global entities, participated in 298 functions hosted by the DWTC throughout the year, 100 of which are world events that wooed up to 2.3 million participants, around 1.5 million of whom are business travellers who came to Dubai and accounted for around 45 per cent of the total turnout garnered by the leading activities organised by the centre.

"The DWTC's 2018 agenda includes more than 100 major events addressing different business platforms, including Gitex, Gulfood Exhibition, he Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, Arab Travel Market, Dubai International Boat Show, Intersec and The Big Five," Julfar added.

The conferences and business tourism is now a major enabler for economic growth, he said, citing its impressive impact on primary sectors and infrastructure, including hotels, roads, airports, malls, telecommunications, and ports.

"The activities organised by DWTC significantly contribute to the emirate's economic diversification programme while helping generate thousands of job opportunities, ultimately reflecting positively on the economic stature of the emirate on the international level," he added.