MIDDLE EAST – Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) is this week hosting the venue’s biggest ever piece of association congress business.
Over 10,000 delegates for the World Ophthalmology Congress were welcomed to the capital of the United Arab Emirates by His Highness Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, who chairs both ADNEC and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Sultan Bin Tahnoon said the over-riding factor in winning the bid six years ago was Abu Dhabi’s “total destination” approach.
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at ADNEC, Humaid Al Dhaheri told CMW that “with 3,500 hotel rooms in the area of ADNEC, we are now identifying and targeting more congress and conference business”.
Al Dhaheri said 214,000 MICE delegates visited Abu Dhabi in 2010, 12 per cent of all visitors.
“Five years of focused investment has delivered new halls, the Aloft and the new Hyatt Capital Gate hotels, the waterfront space and other amenities, which all contribute to creating one of the region’s most advance integrated spaces for conferences, exhibitions and other events,” he added.
Humaid Al Dhaheri noted that the economic impact of the events business on Abu Dhabi had been assessed at US$626m in 2010, “and the yield is growing as more events come to the emirate”.
Investing in big leisure and infrastructure projects as part of the UAE’s 2030 Vision, has elevate tourism into a priority sector and rallied stakeholders towards a common goal, leading to this week’s congress breakthrough.
The 33rd WOC takes place for the first time in the Middle East, at ADNEC’s ICC, having been in Sao Paulo in 2006, Hong Kong in 2008 and Berlin in 2010. It moves to Tokyo in 2014 and Guadalajara in 2016.
President of the WOC 2012 and its congress sponsors the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) Prince Abdulaziz Al Rajhi, told delegates: “We are lucky to have one of the most modern, best-designed and well-equipped convention centres at our disposal. We are sure delegates will have a very positive experience.”
The WOC is sponsored by the International Council of Opthalmology.
ICO President Bruce Spivey said delegates would also have “a high-quality scientific programme over five days, comprising over 500 sesssions and presentations by 2,000 internationally renowned speakers”.
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