The COVID-19 crisis has required all industries to rethink their business models, but it seems that the impact has been felt most by the events sector. From small boutique event agencies to larger players, the sector has had to reshape its traditional offerings and find ways to better utilize their digital capabilities. With Dubai resuming its calendar of conferences, meetings and exhibitions (local meetings restarted on September 15, while international meetings are set to return from October 1, 2020), the city’s event organizers are being urged to closely follow the latest government announcements in order to correctly navigate the do’s and don’ts of hosting events in the safest way possible.
Omar Khan, Director of International Offices, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says that the reopening of Dubai’s meetings and events industry is an important development that will drive business tourism and boost confidence in the Emirate on a global level. “The strategic move comes at the right time, as business gets back on track and companies prepare for a post-COVID-19 recovery,” he explains. "The demand from the corporate side is already there, so it is now up to event organizers to ensure that they are following strict regulations and preventive measures put in place by authorities. We will soon get a glimpse into what the new normal will look like in terms of physical events, which is expected to incorporate more digital elements and online interaction. In this respect, Dubai has positioned itself as a pioneer as it has successfully leveraged its sophisticated digital infrastructure to shift most of it's business activities to online channels, and I am confident that other major business hubs around the world will look to the Emirate’s experience as it strengthens its reputation as a safe destination to host world-class events.”
Since the UAE reopened to international visitors in July, the authorities have been examining how gatherings can take place safely, which resulted in the launch of a new set of guidelines for the business events scene. These include following procedures that are already in place at the airport, hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other visitor touch-points around the city, as well as making use of mandatory thermal scanners or contactless temperature checks, face masks, gloves for staff in direct contact with delegates, two-meter social distancing, and thorough sterilization of venues before, during and after events, among others. Besides these, following the introduction of the new guidelines in order to ensure that Dubai is at the forefront of the global recovery of the business events sector, the city has also been awarding the “DUBAI ASSURED” stamp to companies and entities after they successfully undergo a stringent verification and validation process. The “DUBAI ASSURED” compliance program was launched in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy) and Dubai Municipality and is based on the preventive protocols issued by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.
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