For the first time in five years, The Kingdom of Bahrain has re-entered the top 100 in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Global Rankings, claiming the 89th position for international events held in 2022 at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), the Middle East’s newest exhibition and convention centre. This is the highest ranking for Bahrain in the last decade.
ICCA is a well-respected and prestigious global association of more than 1,000 member companies and organisations that organise, transport, and accommodate international meetings and events. The association’s annual global ranking of the top 100 cities is based on several factors, including the number of international meetings held, the number of delegates attending those meetings, and the average length of stay of those delegates.
Earlier this month, EWB’s executive team members had the pleasure of meeting with ICCA’s colleagues and members while participating at Imex Frankfurt, one of the leading trade shows for the meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions (MICE) and business travel industries.
Bahrain’s re-entry into global rankings is a major achievement for the Kingdom and a clear sign of its impact and growing value as a strategic and appealing destination for business tourism. This is due to the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), with the launch of EWB in 2022 as a key factor in this recognition.
The opening of EWB in November 2022 was a milestone for the Kingdom’s infrastructure development and part of a wider investment in key strategic projects that contribute to economic development efforts. The venue complements the Kingdom’s great appeal as a destination and adds to its business tourism offering, paving the way for it to become a regional leader for MICE.
Since opening, EWB has received more than a quarter of a million local and international visitors over 23 events, achieving direct economic returns and impacting the tourism and hospitality industries. With plans to attract more international events, this will ensure Bahrain continues to rank higher each year and, more importantly, facilitate a positive impact on general trade and investment for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The venue is led by a passionate team fully committed to building a long-term legacy for Bahrain and continuing to host world-class events as part of its responsibility towards contributing to fulfilling the objectives of the Tourism Strategy 2022–2026.
