ETW Staff– Mumbai
Dubai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Dubai Association Centre (DAC). Under the agreement, DAC will offer assistance for the establishment of International non-profit, professional associations and trade bodies in Dubai. Once established in the Emirate, the associations will have access to the UAE and GCC markets, as well those in the wider Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The Dubai Association Centre (DAC) is a joint initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general, DTCM and head of DWTC, said, “It is our aim to ensure that doing business in Dubai is made as easy as possible and to grow Dubai into an international hub for associations. This centre promises to offer a professional and supportive environment in which worldwide associations can base their headquarters. DAC will foster the development of scientific knowledge and professional education in the Emirate.”
Hamad Buamim, president and CEO, Dubai Chamber, and Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and head of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), signed the MoU and agreed to collaborate to define and establish a platform in Dubai for international professional and business associations to operate from the Emirate and to cater to the region and beyond.
As Dubai’s international profile grows following the World Expo 2020 win, a number of international organisations and associations have come together in the Emirate to meet, exchange knowledge and network.
“The Dubai Association Centre will allow for a formal environment where associations can form a membership-based community or open a regional representative office to conduct business in the UAE and beyond,”said Buamim.
He added, “Dubai today is an international centre for hosting major global events, exhibitions and conferences and is the world’s next door neighbour at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. We offer easy access to many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. The associations will benefit from economies of scale, experience in the association marketplace, flexibility and adaptability, increased buying power and centralised facilities at the centre.”
