A new fund has been launched in Abu Dhabi to support the growth of business tourism within the emirate.
The fund was formed following an MoU signed between the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and the ADNEC Group, owner and operator of the largest exhibition venue in the Middle East – the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The ADCEB and ADNEC Group Joint Fund is expected to drive increased B2B events and incentive travel in the emirate.
The fund will be available for events slated to be held from May onwards this year. For events planned between May 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024, applicants can submit their request for proposal to either ADCEB or ADNEC Group for the new fund to be made available to support their event.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the fund will provide additional financial incentives and support corporate meeting planners and incentive houses.
The partnership will reportedly combine the joint marketing efforts of ADCEB and ADNEC Group to raise awareness of the emirate’s ability to host large meetings, conferences, exhibitions and events.
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Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director general for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “With ADCEB’s experience and expertise and ADNEC Group’s impressive portfolio of event, tourism and hospitality assets, together we can create the ultimate destination package that showcases the best of the emirate and attracts ever greater numbers of large-scale and high-profile events to Abu Dhabi.”
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, managing director and group CEO of ADNEC Group, added: “We are pleased to partner with the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau to launch the joint fund for organisers of international corporate meetings and events, who are interested in holding their events at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. This comes as part of our efforts to strengthen the business tourism in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and attract more companies to choose Abu Dhabi as an ideal destination for hosting any meetings, conferences, exhibitions, or events.”
DCT Abu Dhabi announced the launch of an enhanced Advantage Abu Dhabi Meetings and Incentives 2.0 programme last year. The programme incentivizes various stakeholders involved in driving the growth of the MICE sector in the emirate. For example, as part of a revamped programme, ADCEB collaborated with Etihad to incentivise corporate clients to select Abu Dhabi for their MICE events. Similarly, hospitality partners on the programme have schemes specifically for the MICE sector. Intermediaries who step in to further the MICE industry in Abu Dhabi are also suitably rewarded. ADCEB launched the MICE Agency Reward Scheme to incentivise both international as well as local intermediaries for bringing business to the UAE’s capital.
ADCEB has also been engaged in forming strategic partnerships with various entities. Last year, it teamed up with Abu Dhabi-based Miral to create the Business Event Fund that aims to attract business events and corporate groups of over 500 attendees.
