The OCEC has positioned itself as Oman’s premier venue by attracting large-scale international and regional events with a significant impact on the Sultanate of Oman’s economic development. Among some of the events this year, the OCEC has hosted the Middle East Space Conference, the International Occupational Health Summit and the General Arab Insurance Federation Conference, welcoming thousands of visitors to its first-class convention centre. In the coming months, the OCEC will be host to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) World Congress, the International Investment Forum and the annual Green Hydrogen Summit, one of the leading regional events on green energy transition.
As he attends ITB Berlin’s MICE track, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, explains his confidence in the OCEC’s growth for 2024: “This year, we have three strategic drivers: sustainability, digitalization, and inclusivity. Our aim is to make our venue a space for all, investing in the right technologies and creating new opportunities for event organizers and visitors alike. Our major project will also focus on making the OCEC a sustainable venue in the region through a groundbreaking solar panel project happening in 2024. I am grateful to the local associations for their support in enabling us to attract international events to Oman, ensuring that the OCEC remains a premier venue in the region”.
The OCEC has experienced an exceptional rebound post-COVID-19 with around 1.5 million visitors welcomed at the Centre in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022 figures. As an international venue, the OCEC hosted visitors from over 90 countries in 2023, confirming Oman’s visibility on the regional and international scene. This significant rise reflects the growing confidence in the award-winning venue and Oman as a preferred destination for business tourism events.
OCEC: The Pride of Oman
OCEC’s entire complex features awe-inspiring modern architecture, integrated throughout with contemporary as well as traditional Omani design elements. The venue’s grand design represents its grand purpose: To be a vital part of the Sultanate’s ongoing growth story and drive towards modernity and economic diversification – as envisioned by Oman’s late, beloved leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said (1940 – 2020).
For more information on Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre’s facilities and service offerings, as well as upcoming events, interested parties can visit https://ocec.om/ and https://ocec.om/whatson.
