MUSCAT, SULTANATE OF OMAN: The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) surpassed previous attendance records by hosting around 1.5 million visitors in 2023. This milestone underscores the OCEC's pivotal role as a leading events venue, showcasing its adaptability and commitment to excellence.

Key highlights for 2023

  • Hosted around 1.5 million visitors across a diverse range of events, a 25% rise from 2022 attendance.
  • Successfully hosted 230 events, including 19 regional and international, 149 local events supporting over 90 SMEs, live events & corporate meetings.
  • Facilitated the graduation of over 17,000 students at the OCEC
  • Earned the prestigious Best Venue award at the Middle East Events Awards 2023

The OCEC's exceptional rebound post-COVID-19 has been instrumental in attracting increased interest in Oman as a business events hub. The significant rise from the 2022 season reflects the growing confidence in the award-winning venue and Oman as a preferred destination. As an international venue, the OCEC welcomed visitors from over 90 countries, increasing Oman's global visibility compared to 2022 attendance figures.

Among the noteworthy events were the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships (January), Muscat International Book Fair (February), Oman Sustainability Week (April), Comex (May), Oman Perfume Show (June), Gulf Housing Week (October), Muscat Art (October) SMEs Omani Start Up forum (November) and the Oman Green Hydrogen Summit (December) which captivated audiences and contributed to the OCEC's reputation as a premier destination for business events in the region.

Commenting on the OCEC's 2023 success, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, stated: "We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone, marking a year of growth and regional acclaim for the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The OCEC is more than a venue; it is an enabler for strategic discussions between local, regional, and international players on topics of importance to the country. The record-breaking attendance is a testament to our team's dedication and the trust placed in us by our global and local partners. As we look forward to 2024, we remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences and contributing to Oman's prominence on the world stage."

At a strategic level, the OCEC has been focused on creating a positive economic impact for the Sultanate and driving innovation. According to independent research, the business events industry contributed to $1.9 billion in total spending in Oman in 2023, with exhibitions and corporate meetings as leading sectors. The OCEC has collaborated with key industry partners to drive economic investment and growth for Oman’s business events sector, benefiting leading airports, hotels, and tourism companies. The industry continues to be a viable source of employment as the sector generates thousands of jobs annually with many training programmes for Omani youth and young graduates.

"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. To remain on top of industry trends, 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. For us, 2024 will be all about catering for all generations in Oman, ensuring that we have a diverse and inclusive range of events to activate our venue all year round." explained Al Shanfari.

The OCEC expects to surpass its 2023 season with its 2024 programme of events, including many regional and international, starting as soon as Q1 2024. These include 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) and an exciting array of additional events planned throughout the year.

Visit the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre's website for more information on upcoming events: https://ocec.om/whatson

MEDIA ENQUIRIES - PLEASE CONTACT:
Manal Al Kiyumi – Marketing & Communications Manager
Email: malkiyumi@ocec.om
Telephone: +968 2423 3849
Website: www.ocec.om

ABOUT: OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

#WhereTheWorldMeets

Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is a world class, fully integrated venue located in the Sultanate of Oman’s capital, Muscat. In 2023, the OCEC team proudly celebrates the venue as a place #WheretheWorldMeets

OCEC: The Pride of Oman

OCEC’s entire complex features awe-inspiring modern architecture, integrated throughout with contemporary as well as traditional Omani design elements. The venue’s grand design represents its grand purpose:  To be a vital part of the Sultanate’s ongoing growth story, and drive towards modernity and economic diversification – as envisioned by Oman’s late, beloved leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said (1940 – 2020).

World Class Events Destination

The OCEC is located in its own fully integrated precinct just four kilometers from Muscat International Airport. It offers a multitude of spaces for a multitude of events. These include a total of fifty-five modern meeting places, auditoriums and exhibition halls, VIP lounges, Grand and Junior ballrooms, two international hotels, and a business park. As a state-of-the-art venue, the OCEC includes one of the largest theatres in the GCC, and one of the region’s largest column-free exhibition spaces – among many other highlights. The layout includes expansive concourse areas to host large delegations, with large-scale floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features. There is also a multi-story car park with a capacity for 4,000 vehicles. As a part of OCEC, The Precinct provides the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional, and local events and is there for the enjoyment of delegates, visitors, and the local community. It includes the 5 Star JW Marriott Muscat Hotel linked to the Convention Centre itself, as well as the 4 Star Crowne Plaza OCEC Hotel. A business park, surrounded by a nature reserve, which is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi river valley, also form part of The Precinct.

Premier Venue: Premier Events

The OCEC has redefined the way trade, tourism and entertainment events are hosted in Oman. Be it a conference, a trade show, a business meeting, or a special, once-off event, OCEC's expert events team can step in and make event planning hassle-free by doing the heavy lifting for organizers. OCEC delivers a comprehensive portfolio of event hosting facilities and infrastructure – including some of the world’s most advanced Audio-Visual equipment; brought to life by the venue’s professional and highly talented team. Event organizers and all interested parties planning to host an event at Oman’s premier events destination can contact the OCEC team via the venue’s website www.ocec.om

Beautiful Oman

Regionally and internationally, Oman has earned a reputation as being a stable and peaceful nation, which welcomes foreigners to its beautiful shores. All visitors and event patrons making their way through OCEC’s doors are welcomed with Oman’s legendary warmth and friendliness. The country has a modern infrastructure, which links Oman to the world – and the world to Oman. Aligned with Oman’s 2040 Tourism vision, and broader Oman Vision 2040 strategy, the OCEC looks to continue strengthening existing partnerships, and establishing new business relationships among a growing list of local, regional, and international markets.

OCEC: A Greener Future

While the OCEC is committed to maintaining the highest standards in business and operational excellence, the venue is also committed to long term environmental sustainability. OCEC is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified complex and features many examples of green architectural design and landscaping. On an operational level, OCEC is committed to contributing toward a more sustainable planet, and positive carbon footprint activity associated with the entire complex.

OCEC & OMRAN

Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is a flagship establishment in the Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (OMRAN) portfolio of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects. OMRAN drives the investment, growth, and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in Oman and has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard due to their core philosophy of sustainability, transparency, and partnering with renowned regional and international investors.