Press Release Details

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre scoops "Best Purpose Built Venue" at the Middle East Events Awards

Publication Date: 7 May 2012

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer said: “Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre attracts strategically important events to Abu Dhabi and helps fuel the growth of some of our most important industries. Winning prestigious industry awards like this is a tribute the hard work and dedication of the whole ADNEC team who have helped create the venue we have today.”

ADNEC has a clear strategy to ensure continued development of the services, facilities and support offered to event planners helping them organise quality venues and conferences.

Al Dhaheri said: “Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre is one of the most advanced, flexible and well-planned venues worldwide. The quality and flexibility of the facilities and services we offer to events organisers today is second to none and helps us attract new events – and win this award. We are wholly committed to helping our customers make their events successful.

“ADNEC’s strategy is to promote Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre as a global centre for quality, with a focus on offering the best to events in all fields and sectors.”

ADNEC’s marketing department is focused on raising the profile of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre as a leading venue in the region. Committed to developing and supporting event planners and partners, ADNEC contributes to the firm positioning of Abu Dhabi on the map of the regional and international events industry.     

“This is yet another fantastic achievement for all ADNEC employees. It is of particular importance as its honours ADNEC’s strategic role in leading the development of the exhibitions and conference industry in Abu Dhabi,” added Al Dhaheri.

The successful hosting of the World Ophthalmology Congress, attracting more that 10,000 experts and participants from around the world, is one of the best examples of the quality of service offered by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre. ADNEC intends to continue to bid for major exhibitions, conferences and forums.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre combines the latest technology and flexible event space with innovative services and support for its partners. Boasting 73,000sqm of interconnected and flexible event floor space and 60,000sqm of outdoor space, including a marina, the venue can accommodate every type of events.

The award was received by Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of ADNEC, during a prestigious gala ceremony and dinner. Mr Al Dhaheri was joined at the event by Khaled Al Hashimi, Chief Operating Officer of ADNEC, Salah Al Marzouqi, Director of IDEX, and Christina Anthony, Sales Director / Exhibitions of ADNEC.

The Middle East Events Awards ceremony aims to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Middle East's Event industry. Award judges included an impressive panel of international judges from academia and leaders of industry.  

In 2011, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre saw a 56 per cent year-on-year increase as its total number of events shot up to 231 from 148 in 2010, and it welcomes more than 1m visitors annually to a wide variety of exhibitions and events. This growth was attributed to ADNEC’s commitment to providing world-class services to both organisers and visitors, and ADNEC is expecting to see another year of growth in 2012.

In the past year, ADNEC has won more than 20 global industry awards including ‘International Venue of the Year’ (ADNEC) at the AEO Awards (Association of Events Organisers), as well as being named highly commended in the Venue Sustainable Initiative of the Year category;  ‘Exhibition Venue of the Year,’ (ExCeL) at the Events Awards 2011, and World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Venue (ExCeL) at the World Travel Awards 2011.