The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has announced that it surpassed its previous attendance records by hosting around 1.5m visitors in 2023.
The rise in visitors from the 2022 season aligns with the venue’s post-Covid reopening and now sees visitors from over 90 countries.
Commenting on the OCEC’s 2023 success, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, says: “We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone, marking a year of growth and regional acclaim for the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The record-breaking attendance is a testament to our team’s dedication and the trust placed in us by our global and local partners.
“For 2024, the OCEC is focused on three core strategic drivers: sustainability, digitalisation and inclusivity. We aim to make our venue more sustainable in alignment with Oman’s net zero carbon target by 2050. We will continue to innovate and digitalise our internal processes and marketing offerings to create a more seamless experience for our delegates, visitors, and exhibitors.”
According to OCEC, independent research showed that the business events industry contributed to $1.9b in total spending in Oman in 2023, with exhibitions and corporate meetings as leading sectors.
The OCEC expects to surpass its 2023 season with its 2024 programme of events, including:
- The Middle East Space Conference (January 2024)
- Oman International Pharmacy Conference and Exhibition (January 14-16)
- Oman Water Conference (January 22-26)
- Global Higher Education Exhibition – GHEDEX (February 04-06), Interior Design Furnishing Expo – IDF Oman (February 05-07)
- General Arab Insurance Federation Conference (February 18-21)
- International Book Fair and Moonlight Festival (February 22 – March 02)
- Oman Sustainability Week and Oman Petroleum Energy Show (April 2024)
