Dubai to become a lucrative global Event destination with E-licensing and ticketing

Offering state of the art amenities and well constructed exhibition sites, Dubai has not only been recognized as the regional event hub of MENASA, rather it going to be listed itself in the list of top international event destination. Having considered the importance of events and exhibition to foster emirate economy, travel and tourism, Vice President of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai have issued a Decree No.25 of 2013. The Decree is about integrating complete e-licensing and ticketing system for all events in the city. Being nominated for World Leading Destination in World Travel Awards, 2013 and winning bid to host Expo 2020 have doubled the allure of Dubai as lucrative event destination among event organizers. Considering the eagerness of event organizers, State Government has worked with emirate leading bodies like DTCM and its partners Convention and Events Bureau, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (formerly known as Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment) to foster event and festivals in the city.

Primary of new Decree No.25

The primary aim behind these efforts is to support and develop, event sector and enable it to contribute at maximum levels to progress tourism and economical conditions in the city. Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing discussed the complete strategy at Host Cities Conference. The new strategy defined that only combined efforts of Government and Private sector will enable to achieve target of becoming global event destination. For practical implementation of online licensing and ticketing system, DTCM will be playing leading role in developing detail procedure of application, processing and licensing for participants willing to take part in an event. A centralized platform will also be included to sell and distribute tickets for all Dubai events.

DTCM work plan

In order to create a smooth online licensing system, DTCM will review current legislation, rule and procedures of licensing and ticketing of events in the city to efficiently formulate the online licensing system. DTCM will coordinate with all concerned government entities and utilize all findings to establish a perfect system. The system will not only benefit event organizers rather it also facilitate responsible government entities to issue permits and licenses more efficiently saving time and reducing errors. The system will have its complete and comprehensive database of all events held in Dubai. The centralized ticketing system will allow summing up event related issues like ticketing, collection of ticketing fee and ticket distribution on single platform. Furthermore, complete information about the event venue and existing ticketing outlets. Support services are also provided for consumer applying to obtain tickets. In addition to serving event participants and visitors, hotels tour operators, travel agents, air lines and other ticket collectors are allowed to subscribe online ticketing system. Such subscribers could play great role to market events while serving as distribution channel for event organizers.

The fully integrated event licensing and ticketing system will simplify the whole process of staging events in Dubai from promotion to selling. With aim to position this emirate as world leading tourism destination and commercial hub, DTCM is planning, supervising and developing strategies to progress tourism and event sector in the city. Their major aim is to increase the awareness of international audience about Dubai as global hub for events, travel and tourism. This will attract more serious investors towards Middle East across the world.

Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020

Being the major contributor in country GDP, tourism has been the major industry in Dubai. Having considered the economic importance of travel and tourism industry, UAE has been trekking hard to gain prominent position on international levels. To some extent the country has achieved this aim that can be seen from significantly risen number of visitors coming every year. Especially Dubai had successfully double the number of travelers from only five million per year to ten million travelers per year during the past eight years.  After becoming the regional travel and tourism hub, emirate is struggling to become global hub for travel and tourism.

In order to achieve this target, State Government is working in collaboration with DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) and developers to provide high end services and excellent accommodation, transportation and lifestyle amenities.  His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has declared the Dubai tourism vision for year 2020. According to that city will work to double the total number of visitors to 20 million per year by 2020. This will eventually increase the percentage of contribution of travel in the economy and GDP.

Essential steps for achieving Dubai Tourism Vision for 2020             

Despite Dubai has boosted up itself magnificently. After completing mega infrastructure, real estate, entertainment and retail projects, the emirate has successfully got itself recognized among the modern and well developed emirates. To attract tourists and holiday makers, State Government worked in collaboration with developers and investors to construct theme parks, shopping malls, entertainment spots, holidaying resorts, hotels and sporting clubs.  Currently the entertainment spots in the city are capable to provide fun and entertainment for all age group from toddlers and teens to young adults and aged tourists.  To further engage visitors, DTCM also paid special attention to held events and festivals to allure holidaymakers and tourists throughout the year.  The city has gained the status of regional event destination with future aim to become the global event destination. The recent winning bid to host an international event of World EXPO 2020 is the part of Emirate strategy to become the global hub of events.

However, nations have to strive hard and display great motivation to achieve such high goals, it is also important to realize importance of goals for whole nation and country economy.Dubai has great potential to achieve such ambitious goals.

DTCM decided to work on three main areas to achieve targets for 2020

DTCM has identified three key areas to work on to further improve travel and tourism in the region.

• Despite already being the family friendly destination on regional levels, UAE have to work further to improve its status to become the global family destination.  Public sectors are needed to work on projects to add and expand existing attractions, events and experiences to fulfill holidaying needs of families.
• Secondly, the emirate is required to pay prompt attention to foster emirate image as a global event destination. Having considered the importance of events Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) and DTCM integrated to work together to improve Emirates status as event destination.  DTCM is also working with EXPO 2020 team to encourage Dubai to successfully host the event.
• Third key factor that is required to be addressed is to enhance city’s image as a business destination. Government has to make flexible business and trade policies to attract foreign investors and entrepreneurs. This will greatly improve business tourism in the region.

Being the broad service sector, tourism needs support of other sectors like real estate and retail sectors. Developing new attractions, holiday spots, short stays and shopping outlets help tourism sector to achieve their goals.  Completing new tourism projects will efficiently enable this city to achieve targets decided in Dubai tourism vision for 2020.

Top Three Middle East’s Leading Business Destinations

Middle East has simply become extraordinary and rewarding travel and tourism destination as it has revolutionized itself from undeveloped region to modern well developed region. West of Asia and North Eastern Africa are known as Middle East. It is not only a geographical term rather it also has political importance. British Military have created the term of Middle East in 19^th century to separate Far East from Europe (the West). Geographically it is very important and it is used as strategic trade route between East and West extremes of the world. Despite of developing basic infrastructure, breathtaking skyscrapers and leisure and entertainment facilities, the region has rich history of diverse civilizations and religions of – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The historic buildings and museums attract tourists across the world to visit. Being the trade route between Europe and Asia has revealed great opportunities for these Middle Eastern countries to become the most desirable business destination.

Establishment of World Travel Awards in 1993 is the great effort made in UK that rewards countries and cities across the globe for Excellency in all sectors of travel and tourism industry. World Trade Awards held every year on international and regional levels both. If you look over the nominations for this award you will find that Middle Eastern countries have been nominating for this award for international and regional categories both. For the year 2012 WTA nominated top cities of Middle Eastern Countries like Abu Dhabi and Dubai from United Arab Emirates, Amman (Jordan), Doha (Qatar), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Muscat (Oman) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). You must have heard huge debate about Dubai that it is the leading trade hub in the region due its tremendous economic growth and geographical location in the midway between the Far East and Europe. Moreover, it is adjacent to Saudi Arabia, just three hours away from India by air, four hours to North Africa and less than six hours from China, eight hours to Hong Kong and just seven hours away from European Cities like London and Frankfurt.  The city has already won WTA for the year 2007.  Abu Dhabi has also ranked on first position in year 2010 for WTA Award as regional Leading Business Travel Destination. This year previous winners of the Middle East region fail to gain first position for this WTA regional category. For the year 2012 Doha the largest city of Qatar become successful winner for WTA.

Middle East’s Leading Business Destinations

Despite of this fact that whole region of Middle East provide trade routes between East and west, they also have the great potential to become business destination as the region’s countries are now showing great progress in almost all business and technology sectors. Few remarkable Middle Eastern Countries that have shown significant progress in business and trade sectors to attract corporate travelers, foreign entrepreneurs and investors to establish their setups. Following are top three Middle East leading business destinations.

• Doha, Qatar
• Dubai, UAE
• Abu Dhabi, UAE

Doha, Qatar

Doha is the largest and capital city of Qatar. It is one of the modern and rapidly developing cities that have been continuously investing huge money to develop huge property developments and mega infrastructure projects to rebuild its image as premier cities in the Gulf region. Qatar started displaying real progress from 1995 when Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has taken power from his father and started working on programs to modernize country.  The city is known as the city of beautiful resorts and towers, IMF categorized Qatar among the world’s richest per capita nation. Developers have planned several extensive developments to progress this city. Doha Air Port, West Bay and Global Business Center are few famous commercial plazas in city. Foreign entrepreneurs who are willing to do business in Doha can establish their business choosing a suitable business model available for foreigners including joint venture, commercial agency,  branch of a foreign company and branch of a Qatari company.

Dubai, UAE

Dubai, the second largest emirate of UAE has been continuously showing fast progress in business and finance sectors with aim to reduce its dependability on oil exports only. Developers and investors have successfully reshaped the emirate in to a business, travel and tourism city by developing business centers, worth seeing places and entertainment places. It has also win World Travel Award for year 2007. The cosmopolitan environment of the city welcomes entrepreneurs, holiday makers and tourists. The emirate is capable to provide suitable accommodation for all kind of visitors. It also supports foreign investors, businessmen and foreign organizations to launch their business in the emirate. Commercial centers are well equipped and provide state of the art facilities for all kind of businesses. The state government has also established freezones in specific areas that allow foreigners to do tax free business. Moreover, entrepreneurs can opt for suitable business type available in Dubai, which include public and private share holding companies, joint ventures, limited liability, branch and representative office for local and foreign companies and sole Proprietorships.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abu Dhabi is the capital and largest emirate of UAE producing highest amounts of oil and gas among all seven emirates. State government of this emirate has recognized the importance of other business and trade sectors and now focusing to improve city’s infrastructure and real estate sectors to provide ample space to local and foreign entrepreneurs to establish their offices in the emirate. After hosting of Formula 1 Eithad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix reshape emirate’s image as an ideal sports tourism and business destination in the Middle East. Like other Middle Eastern countries, the city also supports several business models like public joint stock companies, private joint stock firms, limited liabilities, branch and representative offices, professional firms and free zone enterprises. The emirate has also won the World Travel Award for year 2010.

Choosing any of these Middle Eastern countries to establish your business will let you earn good profits, if you have carefully studied about the market and business trends of specific country. You will find that these countries have revised their business policies and welcome foreign entrepreneurs and investors to establish their business outlets in Middle East.