As highlighted by a strong presence at IMEX-2008.  

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) participated for the sixth consecutive year in the Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Exhibitions (IMEX-2008) in Frankfurt recently in a big way.

The award-winning trade show provided a vibrant business platform to the 3,500 exhibiting companies and more than 3,600 hosted buyers from over 50 global markets.

Its international scope and diversity, together with its lead on industry issues, makes IMEX the hallmark worldwide exhibition that meets the needs of meetings industry buyers and suppliers.

The DTCM Director Overseas Promotions, Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, heading the DTCM delegation, said: "The IMEX 2008 showcases the best of Dubai in terms of facilities for the MICE industry. The co-participants also highlighted various conference and exhibition infrastructure in the Emirate. The two-storey Dubai Stand measured 350 square metres and featured 36 co-participants."

Among these co-participants were hotels, apartments and resorts, DMC's, the Dubai Convention Bureau, Dubai 's International Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Dubai Naturalization & Residency Administration.

Since March 2003 the Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB), a non-profit government funded organization and a member of the International Congress and Convention Association has been supporting the growing MICE sector and advertising it's exhibition and conference facilities around the world. The DCB aims to bring around 750,000 additional visitors to the Emirate during 2008.

Dubai's International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) currently provides 51,000 square meters of exhibition space and is set to double. With over one million visitors across exhibitions, events, conferences and other shows 2007 has been the busiest year. With the fast-growing meeting sector, DICEC was also the venue for more than 250 congresses, seminars and workshops, which in turn attracted a further 50,000 business delegates to Dubai .

A further 120,000 square meters of space will be added during the first phase of construction of Dubai Exhibition World. Additional generous conferences facilities are planned for countless new projects in the Emirate.

Following the best global technological practices and standards in the fields of passport control, the Dubai Naturalization & Residency Administration (DNRD) manages the entry procedures at Dubai International Airport recording and saving the necessary data on visitors entering the country. DNRD is playing a vital role at the airport, being the first and the last point of contact for visitors to the UAE.

"This year, Dubai for the first time received "Hosted Buyer Groups" from France , Russia , USA and Hong Kong . In coordination with IMEX the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing received 13 Hosted Buyer Groups - in total 132 buyers from eight countries - for a presentation on Dubai and it's MICE facilities", Mr. Al Geziry explained.

Over the last few years, countless private and business travelers have discovered Dubai as a prominent business and leisure destination. Dubai is also an attractive conference destination for visitors from all over the world. Business and incentive tourism is one of the important and growing sectors. DTCM is giving an important focus to this sector by participating in specialized conferences and exhibitions to promote Dubai 's MICE strengths.