The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will target international meeting professionals and incentive travel buyers visiting ATM this month.

"Our aim is to introduce the new Dubai International Convention Centre, which will be ready in March 2003, to this influential global audience," said DWTC general manager Wahid Attalla.

"We are going to make comprehensive information about the new facility available at a special Dubai International Convention Centre stand which will be housed in the Dubai pavilion organised by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing."

The DWTC sees the ATM promotion as a means of positioning Dubai as a key player on the international meetings, incentive, conventions and exhibitions scene.

"With a capacity to accommodate events for up to 11,000 delegates, we anticipate significant interest in the new venue from professional organisations and institutions which organise international meetings and conferences," said Attalla.

"We believe the Arabian Travel Market will assist us in reaching new markets. Our appeal to MICE professionals goes well beyond the convention centre's superb hi-tech infrastructure and bricks and mortar.

"The Dubai International Convention Centre will be managed by a team from the DWTC, an organisation which has been at the forefront of the region's exhibition industry for more than two decades.

"Our wealth of experience in event organising and catering is a definite asset which will enable clients to rest assured their delegates will be handled with care and professionalism."

The Dubai International Convention Centre will feature a 6,000-seater auditorium and 44 break-out rooms catering to between 60 - 600 delegates.

Located next to the Dubai International Exhibition Centre which has 37,000 sq m of prime exhibition space, it will be complemented by more than 1,000 on-site accommodation options.

A 412-room Novotel Hotel will flank one side of the convention centre with a 210-room Ibis business hotel opposite.

"In addition, the Dubai International Hotel Apartments, another DWTC operation, will offer 492 fully-furnished one, two and three-bedroomed apartments available on a nightly, weekly, monthly or annual basis. The apartments will also have a presence on the Dubai stand at Arabian Travel Market 2002."

One of the first key events the Dubai International Convention Centre will host will be the 58th Annual General Meeting and board of directors meetings for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in September 2003 - the first time the prestigious event will be held in an Arab country.