Dubai is one of the safest locations to host international exhibitions and conferences in the coming months, while trade fairs will play a critical role in a post-COVID-19 "restart". That's according to new research.
A survey of more than 4,000 professionals from 130 countries explored the impact of COVID-19 on the global exhibitions industry, delving into areas such as travel, budgets, and the importance of trade fairs in a post-pandemic world.
It showed that 77 per cent of respondents viewed Dubai as the safest destination to attend an exhibition going forward, followed by Germany (41 per cent), Saudi Arabia (19 per cent), France (17 per cent), and Italy (15 per cent).
Eye on the future
Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) agreed that as the coronavirus recedes, exhibitions will be more important for business (31 per cent), or just as important (38 per cent), compared to the past. A further 64 per cent plan to attend exhibitions in the next eight months, while 36 per cent have been given the green light to do so before the end of this year.
The ‘Exhibitions post COVID-19’ survey was commissioned by Messe Frankfurt Middle East (MFME). The results arrive as the UAE continues to inject confidence back into its economy. Last month, international travellers were welcomed to the country for the first time in nearly four months, while on July 16, the Dubai World Trade Centre hosted the AI Everything conference, the first ‘real-life’ event at the venue since March.