Abu Dhabi, 21st June: Leading government and industry figures from the
UAE will visit the UK capital later this week to participate in the formal
inauguration of new facilities at ExCeL London, the leading events venue
owned by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company).
ExCeL’s new facilities, earmarked as the Phase Two expansion, have been
developed under a successful two-year construction programme backed by
ADNEC that has led to the creation of significant additional event capacities
at ExCeL.
Kevin Murphy, CEO of ExCeL London, said: “I am absolutely delighted at
the upcoming participation of the UAE delegation in the inauguration of
ExCeL’s second phase development on Thursday 24th June. It is only fitting
that this ceremony will be conducted in the presence of many of our principal
stakeholders who have so strongly endorsed ExCeL’s vision for the UK events
industry”.
The delegation to ExCeL will be led by H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al
Nahyan, ADNEC’s Chairman.
Other key members of the delegation include H E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi,
UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, General Secretary
of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; H.E. Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Aldar
Properties; H.E. Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana Group; Ali Bin
Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC as well as other ADNEC Board
Members; Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
(ADTA); H.E. Khalifa Nasser Al Mansoori, Executive Director of the Accounts
Department in ADIA; H.E. Mohammed Omar Abdulla, Under Secretary of Abu
Dhabi’s Department of Planning and Economy; and H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri,
Chairman of Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH).
ExCeL Board members Matar Hamdan Al Ameri and Ralph Shipley, as well as
Simon Horgan, ADNEC Group CEO and Ahmed Hussain, Chief Operating Officer
of the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), are other members
of the delegation.
Since opening in 2000, ExCeL London has staged over 2,000 events welcoming
over five million visitors from 200 countries. Seven of London’s top 10
trade shows are held at the venue. ExCeL also hosts major conferences,
such as last year’s G20 London Summit.
ExCeL was acquired by ADNEC in 2008 as part of (ADNEC’s) strategy to develop
a network of venues. Since the acquisition, ExCeL London has cemented its
status in the events industry by picking up 12 major awards. The addition
of the new facilities to ExCeL is expected to further augment ExCeL’s status
as London’s biggest and most attractive events venue.
