Dizzying skyscrapers, mammoth-sized yachts, luxury private jets and the glitzy über vehicles only a sheik could buy are some of the whirlwind finds in this part of the Arabian Gulf known as Dubai.

Now add one more: This city in the United Arab Emirates is on the fast track, developing the coolest infrastructure the world has ever seen as it prepares to host the World Expo 2020. Not since Gustave Eiffel unveiled his iconic tower at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair has the world felt such a stir. This is the first World Expo to be held in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region, and Dubai expects to attract 25 million visitors to the event.

Dubai’s accolades read like a monumental “Who’s Who,” with longwinded superlatives like the world’s tallest skyscraper, the world’s largest manmade archipelago and the world’s latest mega-airport as examples of its proud chest-thumping.

It helps that this past November Dubai was recognized as the World’s Leading Destination at the 20th annual World Travel Awards held in Doha, Qatar. The awards recognized Dubai World Trade Centre as the World’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre while naming the Madinat Jumeirah the World’s Leading MICE Hotel.

While we can only scratch our heads in wonder at the upcoming Dubai World Expo, planners are already keen to get in on the MICE action.

Consider the meetings landscape. According to the Dubai Convention and Events Bureau, the hospitality sector surged 16.2 percent between 2011 and 2012 and now equals 4.5 percent of Dubai’s gross domestic product. The inventory is staggering: 75,000-plus hotel rooms to fit every budget, with more than 25,000 of these rooms along the Dubai metro line. And picture a million square feet of conference space under just one roof, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre within the World Trade Centre. No wonder 50 million international visitors annually arrive at Dubai International Airport.

Charlie Taylor, director of communications, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, cites World Travel & Tourism Council research that indicates travel and tourism in the U.A.E. is growing notably faster than the world average gross domestic product, contributing 14 percent to the economy in 2012 and exceeding the global average of 9 percent. “The WTTC also forecasts a further rise of 3.2 percent, highlighting the sector’s increasing importance in the country’s overall economic development,” Taylor says.

According to the World Tourism Organization’s 2013 Tourism Highlights, Dubai had a 10 percent increase in the number of international tourist arrivals. October to April is considered peak conference season.

Taylor says planners should consider Dubai’s track record of successfully hosting world-class business events when considering this Middle East destination, a track record that is “thanks in part to the spirit of cooperation which exists between the government, industry and local communities.”

Situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai is easily accessible to most of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. “One-third of the global population is within four hours’ flying time, and two-thirds are within eight hours. The competitive advantages of choosing Dubai are numerous,” says Taylor, who lists Dubai’s other advantages: being a leading international business center, having a strong tourism product with a dynamic workforce, and having a government that invests in strategic infrastructure and transportation projects. “The emirate prides itself on its business-friendly policies,” he adds. “Always a trading society, it has brought its ‘open doors’ spirit into the modern world, attracting foreign business and investment through free-trade zones, zero income tax and VAT, and a favorable corporate taxation policy.”

Business is booming. More than 140,000 companies are located in Dubai, including roughly half of the Fortune 500 firms, creating a need for associations in a wide variety of industries operating in the region.

The 876-room, 5-star Madinat Jumeirah, located beside the iconic Burj Al Arab and a five-minute drive from the designer stores of the Mall of the Emirates, offers unique event space and has been home to the Dubai International Film Festival since 2004. Olinda Morais, Madinat Jumeirah’s director of sales, groups and events, describes the venue: “Madinat Arena [a venue around a lagoon] is transformed into a movie auditorium for gala screenings while the [442-seat] Madinat Theatre is the location for smaller screenings and Q and A sessions. At last year’s DIFF, the venue staged a Q and A session with Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Martin Sheen.”

Madinat Jumeirah © Ilona Kauremszky

Developed 11 years ago on the site of the former Chicago Beach Hotel, the first hospitality hub in Dubai, this Arabian resort spans a large lagoon. Morais explains the concept grew from the idea of providing a true Arabian cultural experience in a luxurious 5-star resort setting.

At the 393-room Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Nasser Fawzi, director of sales and marketing, recalls the Al Barsha area before the arrival of this luxury complex. “Prior to 2004 we can say the area was only desert, and the opening of the mall and the hotel developed it, attracting various companies, hotels and malls to the area. Today it is one of the hubs the city has to offer. It’s extremely popular with residents and tourists alike.”

One of the biggest selling points to this luxury hotel is the streaming of daylight into the meeting rooms. Located inside the Mall of the Emirates, the property has 15 unique rooms overlooking Ski Dubai. “It’s called ‘Ski Chalet,’ giving our guests the feeling of being in a ski chalet in the Alps, complete with a fireplace,” says Fawzi. “So even though we are located in Dubai, our guests still get to feel the wintery atmosphere all year ᾽round.”

The property recently hosted an international company that booked all 13 meeting rooms. “This was quite a challenge due to the extensive IT and technical requirements the client had,” says Fawzi. “However, our team worked really hard on the project and exceeded our client’s expectations. This company was so satisfied that they even booked with the same format of meeting with us next year.” The Kempinski also recently hosted the 5th Annual Jewelry Design Awards; several high-end fashion shows; and a private event for basketball player Kobe Bryant, who was in Dubai for the Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend.

At the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding in the Al Fahidi Historic District, the motto is “Open Doors Open Minds.” Nasif Kayed, managing director, says the venue’s main courtyard hosts small events up to 60 persons, the on-site café accommodates 20 persons, and other venues welcome up to 125 guests for a cultural event.

Housed in one of the original buildings of the district, built in 1944, the complex played host to several U.S. companies. “We have hosted Boeing; the U.S. Senate and dignitaries; the U.S. Navy; and many U.S. educational institutions including Harvard, Duke and the University of Maryland. We are the No. 1 cultural venue in Dubai, where interactive cultural exchanges take place, leading to better understanding and open minds,” Kayed says.

For associations looking to expand globally, a new door opened in the Middle East in the form of the Dubai Association Centre initiative. Taylor of the Department of Tourism concludes the new partnership between the Dubai Chamber, Dubai World Trade Center and the Dubai Department of Tourism is an invaluable asset. “The Dubai Association Centre will assist associations with registration, understanding the laws of the U.A.E. and member recruitment in Dubai.”