Coming soon: A convention centre near you

The fundamental aim of ADNEC is to provide top quality events, at a top quality venue with the highest of professional standards, Vincent adds.

"Basically the strategy is quite simple; we want to create a family of venues. Think of it as the hardware and the reason for this is the fact that there is significant globalisation taking place in the exhibitions industry," he explains.

Phase two of ADNEC is on schedule and one of the first events to fully-let the completed project will be ADIPEC in November 2008.

Phase two will see the completion of a 27,000m² exhibition space, including an 8000m² multi-purpose hall, providing a total of 55,000m² of hall space when combined with the phase one development.

Oman

Although the plans are still very much in the formative stages, Oman has also joined in the clamour to provide world-class conference facilities.

According to Salim Al Mamari, director of general promotions for the Oman Ministry of Tourism, the conference and meetings industry sector is a priority to the overall development and profitability of Oman.

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"The MICE segment is high-yielding and is a powerful driver for wider tourism activity," he says.

"International case studies have shown that business-class travellers underpin air service increases and that many business travellers are 'repeat' visitors to Oman. This segment is a priority for our industry."

Planned to be an iconic development with an international profile, the development is viewed by Omani tourism officials as the first significant venture for Oman into the conferences and exhibition market.

"The Ministry is delighted with the Government's commitment to proceed with the design and construction of a state-of-the-art, 6,000-seat convention facility," adds Al Mamari.

"Construction of the nationally significant facility will be managed by OMRAN, and the Ministry will now consider facility management options, including the establishment of a dedicated convention bureau," he concludes.