Expo City Dubai hosts over 75 events and fuels sector growth for 2026

Expo City Dubai has wrapped up another packed year of global gatherings, cultural celebrations and community-driven experiences, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors and hosting more than 75 events.

The city is now gearing up for a bumper 2026 as it and the neighbouring Dubai Exhibition Centre prepare to stage even more major international events.

From sustainability summits and community-building programmes to art festivals, educational forums, family celebrations and sporting competitions, events across Expo City drew diverse audiences and reaffirmed its role as a vibrant hub for global engagement and cultural exchange.

Sholto Douglas-Home, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Expo City Dubai said: “Expo City Dubai’s strength as both an organiser and ideal host venue shone through this year, serving as a platform where visionaries, creators and changemakers convene.

“Looking ahead to 2026, we will build on this momentum, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, leveraging Expo City’s strategic location, versatile event spaces and the expanding Dubai Exhibition Centre.”

Expo City Dubai

For the first time in the Middle East, Expo City hosted the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum, bringing together more than 150 mayors and leaders from over 300 cities to address urban growth, inclusion and sustainability.

The event attracted more than 1,500 speakers and delegates and unlocked $9bn in investment opportunities, highlighting Dubai’s growing influence as a global convening hub.

Momentum continued with the Sustainable Destinations Forum and the 13th Clean Energy Business Council Annual Summit, which gathered policymakers, innovators and industry leaders to advance responsible tourism, clean energy and climate solutions.

Expo City also unveiled Terra’s IUCN Centre for Species Survival, a global platform focused on accelerating biodiversity protection. In January, the late Dr Jane Goodall visited Terra to inaugurate the Jane Goodall Pollinator Garden, aimed at raising awareness of the vital role of pollinators.

Signature events such as Hai Ramadan celebrated the Islamic holy month, while Emirati-led light exhibition Dhai Dubai returned for its second edition. The city also marked Eid Al Etihad with community celebrations from December 2 to 3.

Event sector

Expo City expanded its partnership with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority with the launch of House of Arts. Located in the former Morocco Pavilion, the new public space offers a venue for exhibitions, workshops and creative expression.

Al Wasl Season launched with the Harvest Festival, promoting sustainable practices through collaboration with local farms and immersive, family-focused weekends.

The region’s first Festival of Cake followed, featuring the US-born Cake Picnic concept, before Winter City opened with a festive celebration that drew 38,000 visitors in its first week, its strongest opening since launching in 2022.

The Women’s Pavilion continued championing female empowerment through its Return to Work Programme, attracting around 1,000 registrations and welcoming an average of 400 women per masterclass.

It also launched its first FemTech Hackathon on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, drawing more than 100 proposals, with 46 students from 23 schools selected to develop solutions for women’s health and wellbeing.

Visitor demand

Hundreds of thousands of visitors explored Expo City’s legacy attractions, including Terra, Alif and Vision Dubai, across more than 25 events featuring exhibitions, camps for children aged 5–12, and festivals such as the City Nature Challenge, Bee Festival and Enchanted Forest Festival.

Health and wellbeing events, including the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, Pocari Sweat Run 2025, She Runs and the Emirates NBD Unity Run, attracted more than 20,000 participants and visitors.

Reinforcing its status as a global events destination, Expo City hosted gatherings for international brands throughout 2025, including Sephoria and Mindvalley’s Future Human event, alongside performances such as Holiguard Fire with pianist Stephen Ridley at Al Wasl Plaza.

Looking ahead, Expo City Dubai is preparing for a packed 2026 calendar, including major international events such as GITEX 2026 and the World Health Expo, formerly Arab Health.

As the city evolves and prepares to welcome its first residents in the second half of next year, it aims to continue building a vibrant, people-centric and sustainable destination.