The UAE is the destination of choice for international business meetings, incentive travel, conventions, events, trade fairs and exhibitions. So much so that this area of activity is now a major component of the country's business and tourism expansion plans. With its huge purpose-built exhibition halls and luxury hotels boasting state-of-the-art conference facilities, the UAE provides a unique gateway to the Middle East and Asia.

The addition of a solid infrastructure and a safe environment to the equation helps to explain why the country attracts major global events such as the annual meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2003 (the world's largest yet) and the fortieth International Advertising Association's World Congress in 2006, beating Miami, Bucharest and Sydney for the much-coveted role. And this is only the beginning. By the end of 2005, the UAE authorities will have consolidated the Dh12 billion (US$3.27 billion) exhibitions and conference industry under one umbrella corporation entitled the UAE Exhibitions & Conferences Authority (UECA), overseen by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Planning in tandem with the Chamber of Commerce from each emirate.

Longer term, the Dubai government is building Dubai Exhibition City at Jebel Ali Airport City. This Dh8 billion (US$2.17 billion) project was launched in May 2005 on a 3-million-square-metre site comprising not just the world's largest display space but offices, halls, restaurants, hotels, residential apartments and parking space for more than 20,000 cars. It is expected that the completed 'City' will be ready for the Dubai Air Show 2009.