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The second edition of the Dubai Association Conference has commenced, with the leaders of the Dubai Association Centre expressing optimism about the future for associations in the emirate and emphasising the transformative impact they can have in their respective fields of expertise. The conference opened a day after the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) officially inaugurated its new headquarters, giving registered associations a fresh new space from which they can drive growth and service members across the region.
In the opening session on day one of the two-day event, taking place under the theme ‘The Societal Impact of Associations’, His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre, and His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, set the stage for the conference by discussing the growth of DAC since the inaugural conference in 2017 and the critical role associations are playing in driving change. On Sunday (8 December), they were joined by special guests at the official opening of the DAC offices in One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre.
His Excellency Helal Al Marri, Dubai Tourism said: “Around the world, especially in markets where they have a well-established presence, we repeatedly see the positive impact associations can have on professionalism, training and standards, ensuring their respective sectors and industries are able to effectively support the customers and end users they serve. They can also be an invaluable resource for policymakers and authorities, who are able to leverage their expertise, especially in an environment where innovation and future-readiness are critical. Our vision continues to be for the Dubai Association Centre to provide a platform for this and to be a gateway for regional and international associations to establish themselves in the emirate and take advantage of opportunities in Dubai and
the wider region. The inauguration of Dubai Association Centre’s new offices is an important step in building a strong association community and further demonstrates our commitment to empowering associations and equipping them to provide leadership.”
His Excellency Hamad Buamim, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: “Associations need the right eco-systems in place that can support their success and growth – that is what we are doing with the Dubai Association Centre as we build and grow the association community in the region. Through DAC, we are providing a framework for international and professional associations to establish a presence in the UAE and conduct business in the Middle East, as well as valuable resources and an ideal environment with DAC’s new headquarters strategically located in the heart of Dubai.”
The Dubai Association Conference is once again being hosted by the Dubai Association Centre, a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). It is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Among the attendees are association executives from around the world, government representatives, industry leaders, as well as university faculties and students.
Day 1 of the conference has also seen a session exploring how associations can improve their value proposition, delivered by Geneviève Leclerc, CEO and Co-Founder of #Meet4Impact, as well as a keynote by Patricia V. Blake, Chair of the American Society of Association Executives, in which the speaker shared examples of projects and activities that associations have created to impact people around the world. Another keynote address is being delivered by Emirates pilot Bakhita Almheiri, who is demonstrating how young Emirati females are breaking down barriers and leading the country and the region into a new era of impact.
Other high-profile speakers and panelists at this year’s conference include Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association, Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of Global Destination Sustainability Index, and Dr. Samir Hamrouni, CEO, The World Free Zones Organization.
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