The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, is set to host major events, at both the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and Al Ain Convention centre this January.

Also taking place in the nation’s capital is Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, ADSW, from 11th to 18th January. The global platform for accelerating the world’s sustainable development brings together a unique mixture of policy makers, industry specialists, technology pioneers and the next generation of sustainability leaders.

As part of ADSW, the World Future Energy Summit, WFES, will be taking place at ADNEC from 13th to 16th January.

WFES is a global industry platform connecting business and innovation in energy, clean technology and efficiency for a sustainable future.

From 22nd to 25th January, ADNEC will also host BRIDE Abu Dhabi, the region’s leading lifestyle event with spectacular fashion displays, interactive lifestyle stations, and access to all the latest must-haves in beauty, luxury, and bridal celebrations. The event will also give visitors the chance to witness exclusive fashion shows and red-carpet events featuring world-renowned designers, beauty experts, and top-notch influencers.

The Health, Fitness and Fun Festival, HFFF, will take place at ADNEC from 22nd to 25th January. The event, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, will see four days of compact activities at not to be missed.

Tawdheef 2020 will also take place at ADNEC from 27th to 29th January. Now in its 14th year, Tawdheef serves the purpose of supporting the Government mandate in boosting the share of UAE Nationals in the workforce by matching qualified Emirati talents and national job aspirants with recruiters and hiring managers from leading organisations in the public and private sectors. The event also introduces additional strategic engagements to support some of the critical elements of the nation’s priorities, with particular focus on fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Al Ain Convention Centre will host key events in January including the New Look Exhibition from 28th January to 1st February.

Meanwhile, Dubai is set to host STEP Conference, a technology festival for emerging markets, on 11th and 12th February in partnership with Dubai Internet City and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Tourism.

Held under the theme “The World in Dubai”, STEP 2020 expects to attract over 8,000 international attendees, 300 showcasing startups, and influential tech leaders and speakers to discuss the latest topics and trends across key industries.

This year, programming will represent a world scope on technology in emerging markets, featuring the latest innovations and highlighting the opportunities in the ecosystem. The event will take place at Dubai Internet City with a format of four main conference verticals: STEP Start, STEP Digital, STEP X, & STEP Money.

Speaking on the announcement, Ray Dargham, CEO of STEP, said, “I am very excited to launch STEP for its 9th consecutive year. We have witnessed the development of what started as a conference for entrepreneurs in the Arab world and the Middle East to grow exponentially in becoming a global STEP Conference in Dubai, attracting top speakers, startups, and influential investors from all over the world and specifically from the emerging markets across Asia and Africa.”

“As we enter a new era for STEP next year, in line with Expo 2020 and Vision 2021, we plan to attract entrepreneurs, startups, and tech companies that could potentially expand to Dubai and impact our business and talent landscape. This could not have been done without our partnership with Dubai Internet City and newly signed collaboration with the Dubai Tourism as our Destination Partner,” he added.

Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said, “Supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem is key to our mission in driving talent, innovation and economic growth in the region. Through our continued partnership with STEP, we are confident that together we can provide the right platform for knowledge sharing and expertise exchange, creating the ideal environment for creativity and growth. As a comprehensive tech community, we aim to bring state-of-the-art initiatives and strategies to build the next generation of start-ups. As our ecosystem develops, we look forward to seeing more local success stories coming out of our communities and graduating with global recognition.”

Issam Kazim, CEO - Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said, “We are pleased to partner with STEP this year and excited to welcome international visitors to attend the conference and experience the city. Dubai is increasingly putting a strong focus on developing a vibrant and empowering ecosystem for start-ups and entrepreneurs, with stakeholders across the public and private sectors collaborating to support their efforts to grow, innovate and become vital contributors to our economic growth. STEP offers the ideal platform for entrepreneurs and start-ups to bring forward the latest technologies.

WAM