• DCT Abu Dhabi will now have 10 overseas offices
• Abu Dhabi received more than 30,000 visitors from South Korea year-to-date in August 2022

Abu Dhabi, 06 February 2023: The Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has opened its first dedicated representative office in South Korea as part of its continuous drive to raise Abu Dhabi’s MICE tourism profile in new and potential source markets. Abu Dhabi has welcomed 30,408 visitors from South Korea between January and August 2022, indicating a strong appetite for travel to the UAE capital.

ADCEB will educate corporates, associations, event organisers, MICE agencies, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea about Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE proposition, highlighting it as a dynamic global destination for business events.

“We are excited to open our first representative office in South Korea to further establish Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions. As we remain focused on progressing the emirate, growing our network of international offices will help us expand Abu Dhabi’s reach in newer markets. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in South Korea, we anticipate great demand for outbound MICE travel, making it the best time for us to establish our presence in this market.”

Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau at DCT Abu Dhabi,

In recent years, ADCEB has accelerated its financial and non-financial support towards strategic business events, which includes the launch of Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0, an enhanced subvention programme that offers event organisers an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, comprising financial assistance and destination-driven value-adds.

ADCEB continues to build strategic partnerships that ensures event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees. Earlier this year, ADCEB formed a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, to further bolster support for MICE travel groups travelling to Abu Dhabi.

Through this collaboration, ADCEB can offer eligible Advantage Abu Dhabi applicants additional flight benefits and perks such as group booking discounts, complimentary flights for large MICE travel group bookings on direct flights, and special flight rates for site/destination inspection trips to Abu Dhabi for clients who host their business events and incentive groups in the UAE capital.

In addition, ADCEB occasionally leads or supports the bidding process for suitable conventions and influences event organisers’ decision in launching their first-ever event or geo-clone their flagship events in Abu Dhabi too.

Fostering deeper collaborations with associations, ADCEB also renewed its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Emirates Medical Association to attract more B2B medical sector conferences to Abu Dhabi.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the Emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

—-