The Festival Arena by InterContinental at Dubai Festival City has seen the number of events booked double from 2016 to 2017, as the venue becomes the go-to events space in the region.

In the first two quarters of 2017, it hosted eight events including concerts, exhibitions and awards ceremonies, with a further ten shows contracted for the second half of the year, representing a 75 percent uplift year on year. Additionally, seven shows have already been contracted for the first half of 2018.

The increase in events at the Festival Arena comes as the space confirms its position as one of the leading venues in the region, attracting several international events including UNITE with Tomorrowland. The world famous European festival brand, which makes its Middle East debut on July 29th, will see more than 8,000 fans through the doors for 13 hours of electronic music, and will feature a live satellite link to the mainstage at the festival in Belgium.

Sayed Tayoun, Area Director of Sales and Marketing at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, said of the collaboration, "We understood the requirements of Tomorrowland and fully supported the international organiser’s aim to combine a profitable show launch with the high-spec aesthetics and technical necessities that mirror the main event. We look forward to welcoming many more editions in the future."

Tayoun explained, "The Festival Arena will continue to attract international must-attend events of all types including exhibitions and entertainment shows, whilst the InterContinental will develop and enhance areas to cater to all types of shows this year, and for many years in the future."

Established regional events that have moved from prominent locations in Dubai to Festival Arena have also witnessed increases in visitor numbers by 25 percent, complemented by positive reviews and feedback from clients.

Highlights have included exhibitions such as the National Innovation Exhibition by the Ministry of Education, Photography Live by Informa, and it also hosted one of Dubai’s largest New Year's Eve concerts for 2016/2017, with 3,400 guests turning out to watch headline Arabic artists Amr Diab and Miriam Faris.

The Festival Arena is set amongst the gardens of Al Badia Golf Club with views of the Dubai skyline. It boasts over 7,000m2 of events space, 1,500 complimentary car parking spaces, free Wi-Fi, and ease of access with full on-site facilities and services.