• Dubai Association Centre yesterday (8 December) officially inaugurated its new headquarters in One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The second edition of the Dubai Association Conference has commenced, with the leaders of the Dubai Association Centre expressing optimism about the future for associations in the emirate and emphasising the transformative impact they can have in their respective fields of expertise. The conference opened a day after the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) officially inaugurated its new headquarters, giving registered associations a fresh new space from which they can drive growth and service members across the region.

In the opening session on day one of the two-day event, taking place under the theme ‘The Societal Impact of Associations’, His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre, and His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, set the stage for the conference by discussing the growth of DAC since the inaugural conference in 2017 and the critical role associations are playing in driving change. On Sunday (8 December), they were joined by special guests at the official opening of the DAC offices in One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre.

His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Dubai Tourism said: “Around the world, especially in markets where they have a well-established presence, we repeatedly see the positive impact associations can have on professionalism, training and standards, ensuring their respective sectors and industries are able to effectively support the customers and end users they serve. They can also be an invaluable resource for policymakers and authorities, who are able to leverage their expertise, especially in an environment where innovation and future-readiness are critical. Our vision continues to be for the Dubai Association Centre to provide a platform for this and to be a gateway for regional and international associations to establish themselves in the emirate and take advantage of opportunities in Dubai and

the wider region. The inauguration of Dubai Association Centre’s new offices is an important step in building a strong association community and further demonstrates our commitment to empowering associations and equipping them to provide leadership.”

His Excellency Hamad Buamim, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “Associations need the right eco-systems in place that can support their success and growth – that is what we are doing with the Dubai Association Centre as we build and grow the association community in the region. Through DAC, we are providing a framework for international and professional associations to establish a presence in the UAE and conduct business in the Middle East, as well as valuable resources and an ideal environment with DAC’s new headquarters strategically located in the heart of Dubai.”

The Dubai Association Conference is once again being hosted by the Dubai Association Centre, a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). It is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Among the attendees are association executives from around the world, government representatives, industry leaders, as well as university faculties and students.

Day 1 of the conference has also seen a session exploring how associations can improve their value proposition, delivered by Geneviève Leclerc, CEO and Co-Founder of #Meet4Impact, as well as a keynote by Patricia V. Blake, Chair of the American Society of Association Executives, in which the speaker shared examples of projects and activities that associations have created to impact people around the world. Another keynote address is being delivered by Emirates pilot Bakhita Almheiri, who is demonstrating how young Emirati females are breaking down barriers and leading the country and the region into a new era of impact.

Other high-profile speakers and panelists at this year’s conference include Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association, Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of Global Destination Sustainability Index, and Dr. Samir Hamrouni, CEO, The World Free Zones Organization.

About Dubai Association Centre

The Dubai Association Centre (DAC) has been established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and the Dubai World Trade Centre to offer assistance for the establishment of non-profit, apolitical and nonreligious professional associations and trade bodies in the Emirate of Dubai. DAC offers a formal environment for associations to establish in Dubai allowing practitioners within a common industry or profession who are registered in the Emirate to form a member-based association. Furthermore, DAC provides the framework for international associations to open a regional representative office in Dubai in order to conduct business in the UAE and beyond. As a result, associations are now able to benefit from economies of scale, experience in the association marketplace, flexibility and adaptability, buying power and centralised facilities of the Dubai Association Centre.

About Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism)

With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate. Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai’s tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirate’s commerce sector and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Business Events, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

About Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub.

About Dubai World Trade Centre

Since opening in 1979, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has played a central role in the growth of the region’s international trade. With over 1.3 million square feet of covered exhibition space, it is the region’s largest purpose-built events complex, hosting over 500 business events annually and welcoming over 3 million visitors. DWTC serves as a multi-dimensional business catalyst, focusing on Venues, Exhibitions and Event Organising, and Real Estate Management. Most recently, the establishment of the new Dubai World Trade Centre Authority as a Free Zone entity has strengthened DWTC’s ability to deliver a logistically efficient, business-conducive regulatory environment, offering global enterprises a uniquely flexible base from which to service new growth opportunities across continents.

For further information, please contact:

Dubai Tourism
mediarelations@dubaitourism.ae
[+971] 600 55 5559
[+971] 4 201 7631

© Press Release 2019

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