Abu dhabi: ADNEC Group, the primary driver of Modon's events, catering, and tourism pillar, celebrated its most successful year in 2025, achieving a record economic impact and setting new milestones across all six of its business clusters.
According to Emirates News Agency, in 2025, ADNEC Group generated AED9.2 billion in economic impact, an 8% increase from AED8.5 billion in 2024. Through its business and leisure tourism activities, the group generated 2.17 million hotel room nights, reflecting its growing role in driving economic growth and supporting the UAE's strategic objective of building a diversified, knowledge-based economy.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of Modon Holding, expressed that ADNEC's remarkable achievements are a testament to Abu Dhabi's ongoing success in building a diversified and sustainable economy. By focusing on innovation, economic diversification, and world-class infrastructure, the Emirate has cemented its position as a leading destination for business, tourism, and high-profile global events. These results reflect the vision of the wise leadership, whose strategic planning and tireless efforts have created an environment where industries thrive, and opportunities flourish.
Bill O'Regan, Group CEO of Modon Holding, emphasized that in 2025, ADNEC Group delivered another extraordinary year of growth and significant impact for Abu Dhabi. As a vital part of Modon's platform, ADNEC Group is fundamental to supporting the emirate's long-term economic growth and diversification. Through its exceptional performance across events, catering, and tourism, ADNEC continues to unlock value across multiple sectors while showcasing Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for global events.
Humaid Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group, noted that 2025 witnessed record growth rates across all performance indicators, marking the largest in the group's history. This reflects the success of their strategy to enhance direct and indirect contributions to the national economy, transfer and localize advanced knowledge, establish partnerships, and boost the competitiveness of national industries across various economic sectors. This aligns with the aspirations and vision of the wise leadership to position Abu Dhabi as a capital for these vital sectors in the region and a hub for innovation and development.
ADNEC Group's excellence was recognized on the global stage in 2025, earning 19 prestigious international awards, including the coveted C and IT Best Venue outside of the UK, alongside numerous accolades in the sustainability sector. Among its honors, the Group received the Best Energy Management Initiative award, four Gulf Sustainability Awards in the categories of Energy, Waste, Circularity, and Leadership, as well as recognition from ICCA as the Model Venue for Sustainable Business Events for hosting the 63rd ICCA Congress, which achieved zero food waste to landfill. Nationally, the Group received the Majra Impact Seal Gold Tier for large companies and the UAE Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal, bringing its historic tally of global awards to 202 across its various business sectors.
ADNEC Venues, including ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, ADNEC Centre Al Ain, Excel London, and the Business Design Centre, achieved a record-breaking year in 2025, hosting over 1,149 events, a 15% increase compared to 2024, and welcoming 6.3 million visitors, a 17% increase compared to 2024. These venues supported over 70,000 jobs through their business activities, showcasing their significant economic impact.
ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi hosted 77% of the total conferences and 19% of the total exhibitions held for the first time in the UAE and the Middle East, highlighting growing global interest from event organizers worldwide. The venue also held the largest-ever edition of ADIPEC, which shattered previous attendance records by drawing 70,000 visitors in a single day.
Excel London marked its 25th anniversary in 2025 by completing its 25,000 square metre ICC expansion, becoming the largest fully integrated conference and exhibition venue in Europe, spanning 125,000 square metres. The venue solidified its status as a global events hub by hosting the largest edition of the World Travel Market London, the largest business-to-business tourism event in Europe.
Capital Events, the event management arm of ADNEC Group, achieved several major milestones in 2025, including organizing the largest editions of IDEX and NAVDEX, which attracted 206,073 visitors, a 55% increase compared to the previous edition.
ADNEC Services arm, Capital 360 Event Experiences, had its most successful year to date, supporting 4,621 projects and reinforcing its international presence in key markets. Capital 360 also organized the first edition of Challenge Sir Bani Yas, welcoming over 3,500 athletes and promoting Sir Bani Yas Island as a tourism attraction.
Capital Catering delivered 51.6 million meals across key sectors such as healthcare, aviation, defense, and energy in 2025, a 29% increase compared to 2024. Tourism365 managed the experience, accommodation, and transport of over 330,000 travelers, increasing its clients by 15%.
In 2025, the media arm of ADNEC Group, twofour54, supported over 40 productions and played a pivotal role in bringing Hollywood blockbusters to Abu Dhabi, further solidifying the emirate's position as a premier filming destination.
In January 2025, ADNEC Group signed a 15-year power purchase agreement to develop a large-scale rooftop solar photovoltaic system at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Once operational, the system will generate clean electricity on-site and meet approximately 30% of the venue's energy demand. The solar PPA builds on ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi's position as the first large-scale events centre in the Middle East and North Africa to operate entirely on certified clean energy.
Beyond its clean energy transition, the venue has also deployed innovative technologies to reduce its carbon footprint, including an AI-powered Building Management System designed to optimize energy consumption. These initiatives underscore ADNEC's commitment to setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility within the global events sector.