His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi has today opened Phase One of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the brand new state-of-the-art exhibition complex in the UAE Capital City. The first event to be staged at the venue is IDEX 2007, one of the World's largest defence exhibitions, which also opens today. The opening was done in the presence of many of the country's leaders, dignitaries and VIPs. Also in attendance were representatives from the international embassies represented in Abu Dhabi.

Phase 1 of the new Exhibition Centre - the most modern in the World - includes 28,000sqm of fully inter-connecting exhibition floor space spread over seven halls; two luxurious conference rooms capable of staging events for up to 1000 people; 16 meeting rooms on the Centre's Mezzanine level and a VIP Entrance and Majlis. The Centre also features a superb new 2,000sqm food court consisting of 8 outlets, retail space featuring an Etihad Airways booking office, car rental facilities, business centres; serviced office space, offices for five of the World's top exhibition organising companies and ADNEC's Head Office.

Speaking about the opening of the new Centre, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahoon Al Nayhan, Chairman of ADNEC said:

"This is a great day for Abu Dhabi. We had a dream to create the World's most modern Exhibition and Conference Centre in the UAE Capital City and today that vision becomes a reality. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will be the catalyst which expands the UAE exhibitions industry; it will generate employment in the city of Abu Dhabi and increase the profile of the emirate around the World."

ADNEC's development is in line with the vision of Sheikh Khalifa and H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, to diversify the emirate's economy. It will also be a major contributor to The Crown Prince's aim to attract 3 million tourists a year to Abu Dhabi by 2015; ADNEC is predicted to attract at least one million visitors a year to the emirate from 2008.

"The visitors which ADNEC will attract will directly benefit the people of Abu Dhabi through the economic impact of their visit. Cities around the world have experienced the commercial and cultural benefits which are generated by a successful exhibition, conference and entertainment events venue. We have one of the world's most flexible venues, a beautiful location and the full support of the Abu Dhabi Government so the people of Abu Dhabi can look forward to a positive future." added Sheikh Sultan.

Organisers of large scale international exhibitions and conventions, which were previously unable to their hold events in Abu Dhabi, are now able to stage their events in the UAE Capital. It is these types of organisers which are beginning to book space at the new venue.

Simon Horgan, ADNEC Chief Executive said:

"The time is right for this new venue. The unprecedented scale of development in Abu Dhabi has stimulated the demand for exhibitions across a range of sectors and now there is a facility to meet this demand. We already have more than 50 major exhibitions and conferences booked from 2008 and this number is growing quickly. It is ADNEC's aim to grow this industry by attracting new international events and helping smaller events grow, the prediction is that ADNEC will expand the exhibition industry in the UAE by at least 25%.

Phase two of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is scheduled to begin in March 2007 and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008. When complete, the Centre will provide 55,000sqm metres of exhibition floor space making it one of the largest Exhibition Centres in the Middle East.

For further information please contact:

Ben Collins
Marketing Manager
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company
Tel: + 971 2 4446900
Fax: + 971 2 4446135
P.O.Box: 5546
Email: ben.collins@adnec.ae