Source : WAM
Expo City Dubai has concluded another busy year of global gatherings, cultural festivities, and community-focused experiences, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors and hosting over 75 events. The city is now preparing for a busy 2026 as Dubai and the neighbouring Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) plan to stage even more major international events.
From sustainability summits and community-building initiatives to art festivals, educational forums, family celebrations, and sporting competitions, the city’s events attracted diverse audiences, reaffirming Expo City Dubai’s status as a vibrant hub for global engagement and cultural exchange.
Sholto Douglas-Home, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Expo City Dubai said, “Expo City Dubai’s strength as both an organiser and ideal host venue shone through this year, serving as a platform where visionaries, creators and changemakers convene. Looking ahead to 2026, we will build on this momentum, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, leveraging Expo City’s strategic location, versatile event spaces and the expanding Dubai Exhibition Centre.”
For the first time in the Middle East, Expo City hosted the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum (APCS), bringing together more than 150 mayors and leaders from over 300 cities to discuss urban growth, inclusion, and sustainability. The landmark event featured over 1,500 speakers and delegates and generated US$9 billion in investment opportunities, highlighting Dubai’s rising influence as a global convening hub.
The momentum continued with the Sustainable Destinations Forum and the 13th Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) Annual Summit, uniting policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders to advance responsible tourism, clean energy, and climate solutions. Supporting biodiversity, Expo City also inaugurated Terra’s IUCN Centre for Species Survival, a new global platform for species protection. In January, the late Dr. Jane Goodall inaugurated the Jane Goodall Pollinator Garden at Terra, a sanctuary highlighting the importance of pollinators.
Signature events included Hai Ramadan celebrating the Islamic holy month, the return of the Emirati-led light exhibition Dhai Dubai, and nationwide celebrations for Eid Al Etihad from 2–3 December.
Expo City strengthened its partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority with the launch of House of Arts, an innovative public space housed in the award-winning former Morocco Pavilion, offering a venue for exhibitions, workshops, and creative expression.
Al Wasl Season kicked off with the Harvest Festival, promoting sustainability through collaborations with local farms and immersive family weekends. The city hosted the region’s first Festival of Cake, featuring the US-born Cake Picnic phenomenon, and Winter City delivered a festive, fairytale-like experience, attracting 38,000 visitors in its opening week, the strongest start since its 2022 debut.
Upcoming events include Carols by Candlelight for all ages and a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration at Al Wasl Plaza, featuring live entertainment, arcade games, a DJ, and two countdowns – a pre-family version at 9 PM and the main spectacle at midnight.
The Women’s Pavilion championed female empowerment through its Return to Work Programme, supporting women re-entering the workforce with around 1,000 registrations and 400 attendees per masterclass. The Pavilion also hosted its first FemTech Hackathon on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with over 100 proposals and 46 students from 23 schools presenting innovative solutions for women’s health and wellbeing. Additional initiatives celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, International Women’s Day, and Emirati Women’s Day.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors explored Terra, Alif, and Vision Dubai, enjoying legacy attractions from the World Expo alongside over 25 activations and workshops. Highlights included exhibitions, seasonal camps for ages 5–12, the City Nature Challenge, Bee Festival, and Enchanted Forest Festival. School students participated in The Big Sing, while industry experts guided youth on challenges facing future sustainable cities at the Next Gen World Majlis.
Promoting health and wellbeing, Expo City motivated the UAE to stay active through events like the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, Pocari Sweat Run 2025, She Runs, and Emirates NBD Unity Run, drawing more than 20,000 participants of all ages and abilities.
Expo City Dubai also hosted major brand events in 2025. Sephoria attracted beauty enthusiasts, Mindvalley’s Future Human brought personal transformation experts Steven Bartlett and Jay Shetty, and the internationally acclaimed dance show Holiguard Fire, accompanied by pianist Stephen Ridley, entertained audiences at Al Wasl Plaza.
Looking ahead, Expo City Dubai is preparing for an exciting 2026 with city-wide experiences and major international events such as GITEX 2026 and the World Health Expo (formerly Arab Health). With the city welcoming its first residents in the second half of next year, Expo City Dubai will continue to develop as a vibrant, people-focused, and sustainable destination, promising even more engaging experiences in the years to come.
