The latest 'Economic Impact Assessment' report disclosed the venue hosted 97 large-scale exhibitions, trade events, conventions and conferences during 2018, as reported by Emirates News Agency.

The study attributed the record $3.5bn in preserved economic value for Dubai’s largely import-based economy to the performance of the DWTC’s large-scale events, estimating that for every AED1 spent at these events, a further 4.4 times in sales value was generated for ancillary sectors and Dubai’s broad economy.

Business tourism at Dubai World Trade Centre generated $3.5 billion in 2018, the equivalent of 3.3 percent of the emirate’s gross domestic product.

The total corresponding gross output was estimated at $6.2bn, resulting in a high 57 percent locally retained impact, which marked a three percent increase over 2017.

Five key industry sectors influenced in 2018, including food, hotel and catering; healthcare, medical and science; information technology, business and finance; energy and environment; and industrial manufacturing, accounting for 66 percent ($2.3bn) of the gross value added to Dubai’s economy.

The report determines that these five sectors attracted 62 percent (1.6 million) of all attendees to the DWTC’s 97 large-scale events in 2018.