Dubai’s Flagship Trade Shows to Drive $650m Global B2B Events Platform

Dubai’s largest and most influential trade exhibitions including Gulfood, GITEX Global, WHX (formerly Arab Health), and the Dubai Airshow are set to anchor a new global B2B live events platform projected to generate more than $650 million in annual revenues by 2026.

The initiative follows a newly confirmed partnership between Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Informa Group, which will see the creation of inD, a unified business bringing together some of the world’s most powerful B2B event brands under a single platform.

A Global B2B Events Powerhouse

The inD platform will integrate more than 40 major B2B brands spanning key sectors such as food and beverage, technology, healthcare, aviation, energy, and cybersecurity. Flagship events within the portfolio include Gulfood, GITEX Global, Dubai Airshow, WHX, Middle East Energy, and GISEC.

The combined events business will operate across multiple strategic markets, including the UAE, India, Turkey, Egypt, and Bahrain, reinforcing Dubai’s growing influence in global trade, innovation, and industry-led knowledge exchange.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DWTC Authority, said the partnership represents a major step in strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for high-impact B2B events and international collaboration.

Infrastructure Expansion to Support Growth-

The launch of inD aligns with a major expansion of Dubai’s exhibition infrastructure. The Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) is set to add 140,000 square metres of additional event space in 2026, significantly increasing capacity and enabling the hosting of larger, more complex exhibitions.

The expansion is expected to ease longstanding challenges related to crowding and parking at existing venues, while supporting the continued growth of Dubai’s flagship trade shows many of which already rank among the world’s largest in their respective industries.

Gulfood 2026 to Lead the inD Portfolio-

The first event to be staged under the inD brand will be Gulfood 2026, scheduled to run from January 26 to 30. For the first time in its history, Gulfood will span both the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Organisers expect Gulfood 2026 to host more than 8,500 exhibitors, showcase 1.5 million products, and attract participants from 195 countries, further cementing its status as the world’s largest food and beverage sourcing event.

The programme will be followed in February by WHX Dubai and WHX Labs Dubai, which together are expected to bring more than 270,000 healthcare professionals to the emirate.

Growing Demand for Live Business Engagement-

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive of Informa, said the formation of inD reflects rising global demand for high-quality, in-person B2B events as industries increasingly prioritise face-to-face engagement, deal-making, and collaboration.

Industry analysts say the scale of the inD platform positions Dubai as one of the world’s most influential centres for global trade exhibitions, supporting economic diversification and reinforcing the emirate’s role as a gateway between international markets.