DWTC to Launch ‘Rise’: A New Real Estate Exhibition Shaping the Future of Dubai’s Property Sector
Dubai is taking its global event game to the next level with the launch of a brand-new real estate exhibition—‘Rise’, set to become a forward-looking hub for the region’s property and urban development industries.
Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), ‘Rise’ will go beyond showcasing real estate developments. Instead, it aims to highlight the future of city planning, infrastructure innovation, and long-term urban growth strategies.
What Makes ‘Rise’ Different?
Unlike traditional property exhibitions that focus solely on buying, selling, or launching off-plan projects, Rise will serve as a platform for architects, policymakers, developers, and infrastructure experts to connect, share insights, and shape the cities of tomorrow.
Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice-President at DWTC, explained that the idea for the event stemmed from a broader strategy:
“This is not just about real estate sales. It’s about how cities evolve—decade by decade. And we want Rise to be the meeting point for those who are shaping that evolution.”
The event will coincide with the opening of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City in 2026—set to become the Middle East’s largest single-site venue for major events.
A Booming Events Sector Fuels Dubai’s Economy
DWTC’s economic impact has been nothing short of impressive. In 2024 alone:
- Dubai hosted 100 major exhibitions and conferences
- These generated AED 22.35 billion in total economic output
- Over 2 million visitors attended these events, with nearly 936,000 from overseas
- Of that total output, AED 13.04 billion was retained as Gross Value Added (GVA) to Dubai’s GDP
In addition, the city’s events sector helped create 85,533 jobs across the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industry and its supporting sectors.
According to DWTC’s 2024 Economic Impact Assessment, the exhibition industry continues to be a critical engine of economic opportunity and innovation for Dubai.
Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion on Track for 2026
The upcoming Dubai Exhibition Centre, part of the legacy infrastructure of Expo 2020 Dubai, will begin hosting mega-events in 2026. The goal is to support co-located events, giving more room for growth across key industries.
Julfar shared an example:
“Arab Health will take place at Dubai Exhibition Centre, while Medlab will run simultaneously at DWTC. This allows both events to expand and thrive without space constraints.”
The expansion is based on a strategic assessment of future demand in the exhibition industry, with projections that major global conferences now have lead times of 2 to 10 years for city bids and approvals.
What This Means for Dubai Real Estate
The launch of Rise underscores the growing global interest in Dubai’s real estate and infrastructure sectors. It also highlights how the emirate continues to position itself as a hub for international business, investment, and innovation.
Real estate professionals, city planners, and developers should see Rise as more than just an event—it’s an opportunity to connect with thought leaders, discover cutting-edge trends, and shape the cities of the future.
Final Thoughts
With Rise, Dubai is not just expanding its exhibition calendar—it’s reinforcing its position as a global center for innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
If you’re in real estate, infrastructure, or urban planning, mark your calendar for Rise—where the future of cities will be imagined and built.
