ADNEC Group contributes record AED9.2bn+ to UAE economy in 2025

ADNEC Group, a Modon company, contributed over AED9.2 billion to the UAE economy in 2025, marking its highest economic impact to date and an 8 per cent increase from 2024, reinforcing its global leadership across events, hospitality, media, and tourism.

The group contributed to generating more than 2.17 million hotel room nights through its business and leisure tourism activities, supporting the UAE’s strategic vision towards building a diversified economy.

Humaid Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “2025 witnessed record growth rates across all performance indicators for our business sectors, marking the largest in the group’s history.

This reflects the success of our strategy to enhance direct and indirect contributions to the national economy, transfer and localise advanced knowledge, establish partnerships, and boost the competitiveness of national industries across various economic sectors.

This aligns with the aspirations and vision of our wise leadership to position Abu Dhabi as a capital for these vital sectors in the region and a hub for innovation and development.” ADNEC Group won 19 prestigious international awards in 2025, including the title C&IT Best Venue (outside of UK), alongside numerous accolades in the sustainability sector.

This brought the historic number of global awards won by the group to 202 across its various business sectors. ADNEC Venues, including ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, ADNEC Centre Al Ain, Excel London and the Business Design Centre, achieved a record-breaking year in 2025, hosting over 1,149 events, a 15 per cent increase compared to 2024, and welcoming 6.3 million visitors, a 17 per cent increase compared to 2024, marking the highest attendance in the group’s history.

Additionally, it supported over 70,000 jobs through its business activities, showcasing its significant economic impact. ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi hosted 77 per cent of the total conferences and 19 per cent of the total exhibitions held for the first time in the UAE and the Middle East, highlighting the growing global interest from event organisers worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

In 2025, the venue also held the largest-ever edition of ADIPEC, which shattered previous attendance records by drawing 70,000 visitors in a single day, a milestone for both the event and the venue itself.

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi also held the prestigious IUCN World Conservation Congress, which took place for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, and welcomed 10,000 attendees who set the vision for nature conservation for the next 20 years.

Excel London, which marked its 25th anniversary in 2025, completed its 25,000 square metre ICC expansion, becoming the largest fully integrated conference and exhibition venue in Europe spanning 125,000 square metres, with the season finale of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship marking the opening of the new purpose-built space.

The venue solidified its status as a global events hub by hosting the largest edition of the World Travel Market London, the largest business-to-business tourism event in Europe, which saw over 46,000 industry professionals from around the world.

Capital Events, the event management arm of ADNEC Group, achieved several major milestones in 2025, organising the largest edition of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), which attracted 206,073, a 55 per cent increase to the previous edition.

The fourth edition of Make it in the Emirates was organised for the first time at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, which allowed the event to grow 300 per cent in size and welcome a 16-fold increase in exhibitors compared to the 2024 edition.

Capital Events also launched the first edition of the Al Ain International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition at ADNEC Centre Al Ain, attracting a venue record 116,617 visitors and establishing itself as a significant new event on Al Ain’s calendar.

ADNEC Services arm, Capital 360 Event Experiences, had its most successful year to date, supporting 4,621 projects and reinforcing its international presence in key markets, including Egypt, United States of America, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

Capital 360 Event Experiences also organised the first edition of Challenge Sir Bani Yas, the first long-distance triathlon in the Middle East and North African region, which welcomed over 3,500 athletes from 47 nationalities and promoted Sir Bani Yas Island as a major tourism attraction in the Al Dhafra Region.

Capital Catering, the F&B arm of ADNEC Group, delivered 51.6 million meals across key sectors such as healthcare, aviation, defence, and energy in 2025, a 29 per cent increase compared to 2024, highlighting its significant growth and impact.

The company provided services to 29 hospitals across the UAE and 21 airlines through its airport facilities, while also serving as a key caterer for the UAE energy sector, supporting major clients such as ADONC and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company.

Tourism365 continues to drive inbound tourism to Abu Dhabi. In 2025, Tourism365 managed the experience, accommodation and transport of over 330,000 travellers and increasing its number of clients by 15 per cent.

Tourism 365 also served a record 144,000 stopover passengers, further driving inbound tourism to Abu Dhabi. In 2025, twofour54 made significant strides in empowering global storytelling, supporting over 40 local, regional, and international productions.

The media arm of ADNEC Group played a pivotal role in bringing Hollywood blockbusters such as Dune 3, Brad Pitt’s F1 and Bunker 13 to Abu Dhabi, further establishing the emirate as a premier filming destination.

ADNEC Group also achieved significant milestones in sustainability, aligning with its plan to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2045.

The group has received national recognition for its achievements, including the Majra Impact Seal Gold Tier for large companies and the UAE Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal.

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi became the first large-scale events centre in the Middle East and North Africa to operate entirely on clean energy through a partnership with Emirates Water and Electricity Company.

ADNEC Group remains committed to advancing Abu Dhabi’s vision for economic diversification and sustainable development. By pursuing new business opportunities across its core sectors, the group aims to further enhance its global leadership in business tourism, events, and hospitality while driving long-term value for the UAE and its people.