ADNEC Signs MoU with Institución Ferial de Madrid Centre to Boost Collaboration on Future Exhibition Projects

Pieter Idenburg, Group CEO of ADNEC, and Luis Eduardo Cortés Muňoz, CEO of IFEMA, Ink Partnership

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 08 December, 2013 – Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Institución Ferial de Madrid (IFEMA) seeking to explore mutually beneficial opportunities in the events and exhibitions landscape across diverse economic sectors.

A leading player in the European MICE markets, Madrid-based IFEMA is a key trade fair institution with more than 30 years of experience in staging events and exhibitions across industrial and commercial sectors.

The agreement will allow IFEMA to enhance its presence in the UAE while enabling ADNEC to increase its profile in Europe and grow its portfolio of world-class events. In addition to promoting the flagship brands of the two entities in both markets, the MoU will facilitate ADNEC and IFEMA to exchange vital industry information and best practices for the joint development of potential exhibition projects.

The agreement was signed in Madrid by Pieter Idenburg, ADNEC's Group Chief Executive Officer, and Luis Eduardo Cortés Muňoz, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IFEMA, under the initiative of the UAE Embassy in Spain.

Dr Hissa Abdulla Ahmed Al-Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain, Abdul Razzak Al Abdul Ghani, Ambassador of Qatar, Al-Abbas Al Harthi, Head of Business at the Embassy of Oman, and Miguel Moro Aguilar, Deputy Director General for the Middle East at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, witnessed the signing ceremony in the presence of Santiago Quiriga, Director of International Development at IFEMA, and Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Head of Sales for Congresses and Conferences at ADNEC, who were responsible for brokering the partnership.

Pieter Idenburg, CEO, ADNEC Group, said: “The signing of this agreement is an exciting development for ADNEC and strengthens Abu Dhabi's offering as a global business tourism destination. IFEMA is major player in the event industry in Spain and across Europe. This partnership will build upon the strong ties that we currently share and open doors to the huge European MICE market for Abu Dhabi and the ADNEC Group. We look forward to the cross-pollination of ideas, opportunities and best practices in the interest of our mutual growth.”

Economic ties between the UAE and Spain have strengthened over recent years allowing a significant number of Spanish companies to establish a presence in the UAE and register sustained growth in investments. Trade relations between the UAE and Spain have grown by 75 per cent in the last three years, increasing from €1bn in 2009 to €1.75bn in 2012. In addition, the bilateral flow of tourists rose to 70,000 people in 2012, boosted by the increase in flights between the two countries.

ADNEC is a key driver of business tourism to Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. The award-winning Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre offers organisers of exhibitions, conferences and live events a total of 133,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, spread over three ball rooms, 20 meeting rooms, 11 fully interconnected halls and a 6,000 seat conference centre facility. In addition to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ADNEC's Group portfolio includes ExCeL London, Al Ain Convention Centre, Capital Gate, Hyatt Capital Gate, Aloft Abu Dhabi and Aloft London.