ADNEC Group has achieved a historic milestone by contributing AED8.5 billion to the UAE economy in 2024, surpassing the AED7.4 billion recorded in 2023. This achievement underscores the group’s expanding influence in bolstering economic growth and aligns with the UAE’s strategic goal of fostering a diversified, knowledge-based economy.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, remarked that 2024 has been a landmark year, marked by exceptional achievements across all sectors of their business. He credited the sustained support of the UAE’s leadership and the group’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence as key factors in these accomplishments.
In 2024, ADNEC Group expanded its global footprint by acquiring Royal Catering and the Business Design Centre in London, UK, bringing its total number of venues to four. This strategic move has strengthened its market presence and diversified its portfolio.
Sustainability remained a core focus for ADNEC Group. The group was honored with the Sheikh Hamdan Environmental Award, reflecting its dedication to environmental stewardship. Notably, the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi became the first MICE venue in the Middle East to be powered entirely by clean energy from the Emirates Water and Electricity Company , setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the region. Additionally, the launch of TerraTile, an innovative sustainable flooring product made from exhibition waste, demonstrated the group’s commitment to advancing sustainability in the events industry.
The group’s venues, including ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, ADNEC Centre Al Ain, and ExCeL London, hosted over 1,000 events in 2024, attracting more than 5.4 million visitors—the highest number in its history. A significant highlight was the completion of the ExCeL London expansion, increasing the venue’s size to 270,000 square meters. ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi also hosted its largest and most successful editions of flagship events such as the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show , Global Food Week, and the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition .
Capital Events, the event organizing arm of ADNEC Group, facilitated deals worth over AED10 billion across eight events, solidifying its reputation as a leader in event management. ADNEC Hotels welcomed a record-breaking 1,531,000 guests, while Capital Catering, the group’s Food & Beverage division, delivered 40 million meals across 45 locations and catered to 2,200 weddings and events, including the largest corporate Iftar at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi for 8,000 guests.
Capital 360 Event Experiences achieved its most successful year, driven by regional expansion and key project wins in countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Tourism 365, the tourism arm of ADNEC Group, managed 350,000 travelers, generating 250,000 room nights—the highest performance since its establishment.
Twofour54, an ADNEC Group company, expanded its offerings with the launch of two state-of-the-art TV studios at Yas Creative Hub and supported 34 regional and international productions through its Tawasol initiative. The group also exited its investment in ZenHR, delivering a 300% return on investment.
The 2025 editions of the International Defence Exhibition and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition , organized by ADNEC Group, concluded successfully under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. These events marked the largest editions in their history, attracting 1,565 companies from 65 countries—a 16% increase compared to the previous edition. The exhibitions spanned 181,501 square meters, a 10% expansion in total exhibition space. Notably, 731 companies participated for the first time, representing an 82% increase, alongside 213 Emirati companies, which accounted for 16% of the total exhibitors, reflecting the advancement of the UAE’s defense industries sector.
Visitor turnout for IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 reached 206,073, reflecting a growth rate of over 55.5% compared to the previous edition. International visitors accounted for 57% of the total attendees from 167 countries, while local visitors made up 43%. The visitor demographics included 85% male attendees and 15% female attendees. The UAE ranked first in visitor numbers, followed by China, Turkey, the United States, India, France, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Ukraine.
The 2025 International Defence Conference, held alongside the exhibitions, attracted over 1,800 attendees—a 25% increase from the previous edition. It featured participation from 55 military delegation heads, 40 CEOs of defense companies, 48 ambassadors, and 65 military attachés. Discussions centered on global security challenges, supply chain resilience, information warfare, and emerging threats in space, with 12 prominent speakers, including ministers and top defense officials.
