The UAE has been ranked as the fifth preferred country in the world in which to hold a conference.

This is as per an independent report - Country Brand Index - released at the World Travel Market in London.

The UAE is the top Middle Eastern country in the index and has beaten major established conference destinations such as the UK, France, Japan and Canada in the league table.

The dramatic increase in the conference industry in the UAE capital city of Abu Dhabi is cited as a major contributing factor to the UAE's success.  This increase is being spearheaded by the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Phase 1 which opened in February 2007 with Phase 2 on course to open in autumn 2008.

'The conference and exhibition business is a barometer of a country's economy.  When markets are flourishing, conferences and exhibitions in that region flourish and in Abu Dhabi we have market growth on a rare scale,' said Adnec CEO, Simon Horgan.

'Abu Dhabi has created the world's leading conference and exhibition facility because, as one the fastest growing cities in the world that's what we needed to do.  Naturally I'm delighted that what we're doing in Abu Dhabi is helping to establish the UAE in the very top tier of conference destinations, above countries with long established conference and exhibition industries,' he added.

The report entitled 'Country Brand Index' which has been complied by international brand consultancy FutureBrand determines the world's most successful countries in terms of brand, across a range of criteria such as Authenticity, Environment, Safety and Value for Money.

'The UAE is emerging as a powerhouse country brand and its significant rise this year as a leader in conferences is quite dramatic. Abu Dhabi's aggressive growth, attention to creating world-class facilities and related ancillary services is clearly impacting global travel perspectives,' said executive director of FutureBrand Rina Plapler.

Adnec recently announced that construction of Phase 2 of the exhibition centre was running ahead of schedule.  When complete, Adnec will be the largest exhibition and conference centre in the Middle East. 

Adnec and the surrounding Capital Centre development is being developed under the patronage of chairman of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan. - TradeArabia News Service