Dubai seeks to become global association hub
The Dubai Association Centre (DAC) on Sunday said it received 42 applications, including 10 from European associations, to establish a regional representative office in Dubai following its recently-concluded roadshows in Europe.
Hassan Al Hashemi, Member of the Executive Committee of DAC and Vice-President of International Relations, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said a number of associations expressed an interest in DAC’s registration process and the multiple benefits offered to overseas associations.
Among the applications submitted by the associations, he said 9 requests including 3 from European associations are being processed.
The focus of the roadshows was on Geneva and Brussels, which are two major centres of European associations, as Dubai is looking at becoming a leading centre of associations in the Middle East and North Africa.
The roadshows came as part of DAC’s efforts to attract international non-profit, professional associations and trade bodies to establish a regional representative office to conduct business in the UAE and beyond and to form a membership-based community or open a regional representative office while strengthening their presence in the region.
DAC, a joint initiative of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre, has been established to offer assistance for the formation and development of associations in the UAE and beyond.
As the official licensing authority for non-profit, apolitical and nonreligious professional associations and trade bodies in Dubai, DAC also used the roadshow to strengthen its partnership with the Union of International Association and the Federation of European and International Associations Established in Belgium to promote Dubai as the natural global association hub for the Middle East region.
Al Hashemi said that the European roadshows were very successful as they achieved their purpose of promoting Dubai as a gateway to markets in the region and to enhance the emirate's presence in Europe and to raise awareness of DAC brand and its potential to attract European associations.