State-owned exhibition and events operator Dubai World Trade Centre is reportedly considering a public listing of a joint events business with UK-based Informa Group, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources.
Rothschild & Co is said to be advising on a potential Dubai IPO, which could take place as early as this year.
DWTC sits at the heart of Dubai’s business district and hosts several flagship international trade shows, including the Dubai Airshow, Arabian Travel Market, Gulfood and Gitex. The venue delivered a record performance in 2024, generating AED22.35B ($6B) in economic impact for Dubai across sectors such as retail, hospitality and transport.
Informa International
The proposed listing follows the announcement in March 2025 of a strategic partnership between DWTC and Informa to form Informa International. The new entity will consolidate exhibitions, conferences, professional training and accreditation businesses from both groups in Dubai and select international markets. At the time of the announcement, the venture was forecast to generate annual revenues exceeding $700M.
DWTC has also committed to tripling the annual GDP contribution of Dubai’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector to AED54B by 2033, in line with the emirate’s D33 Economic Agenda.
Value of MICE Market
Globally, the MICE market was valued at between $907B and $1.12T in 2024–2025, according to the Global Tourism Forum, with projections suggesting the sector could grow to as much as $2.4T by 2030.
“Listing this business isn’t just about raising capital,” said Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. “It’s about unlocking value, planning for growth and aligning performance with investor expectations in a rapidly expanding global market.”
DWTC and Informa declined to comment.
The potential IPO would come amid expectations of more listings on Gulf exchanges in 2026 following a subdued 2025. According to Kamco Invest, 44 IPOs raised $6B across Gulf markets last year: the lowest annual total since 2020.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring an IPO for its events management company Sela, a move Valecha said could attract “immense investor appetite”.
Stay Up to Date with the Latest Updates at Finance ME!
Analysis: IFC Oman is Carving a Niche in High-Growth Financial Sectors
AI Loves Lawyers, Not Billable Hours
Qatar Financial Centre: H.E. Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater Appointed as New CEO
