DUBAI: The second edition of the Dubai Association Conference, being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, will take place 9-10 December under the theme of ‘Driving change: The societal impact of associations’.
Over the course of two days the conference, organised by Dubai Association Centre and taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, will bring together association executives from around the world, government representatives, industry leaders, as well as university faculties and students, in a space focused on building the association community in the region for the purpose of positive social impact.
Established in 2014, the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) is a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) that support and license regional and international associations in setting up an office or chapter in Dubai. The inaugural edition of its Dubai Association Conference took place in December 2017, while DAC last year hosted an Association Leaders Getaway in the city.
Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “As Dubai continues to grow as a knowledge hub, associations have immense potential for driving growth in our rapidly transforming economy. Along with being a catalyst for business opportunities within a thriving ecosystem, they have the power to fuel innovation and creativity which ultimately contributes to the wellbeing of our communities, and society.
“Since its establishment, Dubai Association Centre has grown to become a platform for international associations that simultaneously benefit from and contribute to the numerous opportunities Dubai has to offer as a global knowledge and business events hub. We are looking forward to the second edition of the Dubai Association Conference this year to further facilitate our transformation agenda as we work cohesively with key stakeholders to create an ecosystem for associations to prosper.”
Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber, said: “Dubai has strengthened its reputation as a regional association hub in recent years and global associations are fast realizing the attractive advantages and expansion opportunities that the emirate can offer them. At the same time, Dubai is benefitting from Dubai’s fast-growing association community, as these organisations make a positive contribution to the economy and society by bringing with them best international practices, valuable expertise and international events that support the emirate’s knowledge economy and enhance its long-term competitiveness.”
Al Hashemi noted that DAC has witnessed exponential growth since its establishment and that the second Dubai Association Conference will provide an ideal platform to expand this network and showcase the value proposition that Dubai offers various types of associations from around the world.
Focused on the value and impact associations have on societies through this year’s theme, the conference will explore four sub-themes: Community Well-Being, Knowledge and Research, Business and Opportunity, and Creativity and Innovation.
The key objective of this themed approach is to anchor associations more closely to the respective business sectors and knowledge clusters in which they have the means to generate a positive and sustainable change. In addition, the conference will serve as a platform to facilitate discussions on the value proposition of associations that go beyond direct and indirect economic benefits.
Mahir Julfar, Senior Vice President, Venue Services Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “Dubai has been at the forefront of positioning associations within various sectors to ultimately achieve their highest potential. Since its inception, the Dubai Association Conference has successfully bridged the gap between like-minded international and regional experts that share a combined passion for transformation, creativity and innovation. We’re honoured to have witnessed the evolution of education across industries through intercultural knowledge exchange, which in turn will make an impact on the city’s economy. We look forward to another edition of DAC; one that will help businesses flourish, innovate and encourage key dialogue for those looking to explore business opportunities in the Middle East.”
The Dubai Association Centre was established in response to the surge in the demand for association engagement in the UAE and the Middle East. Its main objective is to become a platform for dialogue and education for associations interested in exploring opportunities in the Middle East Region and to ultimately contribute to building an association community that drives the knowledge economy in the United Arab Emirates and the wider region.
There are currently more than 60 associations licensed under Dubai Association Centre, with continued strong interest from professional and trade associations interested in expanding their reach into the Middle East region. BIZ TODAY MONITOR
