Cvent , an industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, has released its 2026 rankings of the top meeting destinations and meeting hotels across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), underscoring continued demand for in-person business events despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
The annual rankings,
compiled by the meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, are
based on insights from more than $20 billion in global sourcing and
request-for-proposal (RFP) activity recorded through Cvent’s platforms in 2025.
This includes a record volume of business sourced through the Cvent Supplier
Network, one of the world’s largest venue sourcing marketplaces.
According to Cvent,
the strong sourcing activity reflects the sustained importance of face-to-face
engagement for event planners and organisations across the region.
Dubai retained its
position as the leading meeting destination in the MEA region, followed by
Istanbul and Abu Dhabi, which maintained their second and third-place rankings
respectively. Marrakech climbed to fourth place, while Riyadh moved up to
fifth. Doha also advanced one position to sixth place.
Among the
strongest-performing destinations were Cairo, which rose five places to rank
eighth, and Casablanca, which entered the top 10 for the first time after
climbing four spots. The gains highlight the growing appeal of North African
cities for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events.
Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting
Destinations in the Middle East and Africa for 2026 are:
- Dubai, UAE
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Doha, Qatar
- Cape Town, South
Africa
- Cairo, Egypt
- Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Casablanca, Morocco
In the hotel category,
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai retained the top position, reinforcing Dubai’s
standing as a major hub for large-scale conferences and corporate events.
Conrad Dubai recorded
one of the biggest gains, climbing six places to rank second, while Hyatt
Regency Dubai Creek Heights rose to third place. Istanbul also strengthened its
presence in the rankings, with four hotels securing spots in the top 10, reflecting
the city’s growing prominence in the regional MICE sector.
Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting
Hotels in the Middle East and Africa for 2026 are:
- JW Marriott Marquis
Hotel Dubai
- Conrad Dubai
- Hyatt Regency Dubai
Creek Heights
- Hilton Dubai Al
Habtoor City
- InterContinental Dubai
Festival City – Congress Destination
- InterContinental
Istanbul
- Le Méridien Dubai
Hotel & Conference Centre
- Conrad Istanbul
Bosphorus
- Swissôtel The
Bosphorus, Istanbul
- Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and
Retail Establishment, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
(DET) said: “Dubai is proud to once again be recognized as the
leading meetings destination in the MEA region, reaffirming the city’s position
as a global hub for business events and innovation. This achievement reflects
the visionary leadership and ambitious strategy that continue to drive Dubai’s
growth and global competitiveness. International planners choose Dubai for its
world-class infrastructure, seamless connectivity, advanced technology
ecosystem, and proven ability to consistently deliver large-scale, high-impact
events with excellence. Our integrated network of venues, hotels, airlines, and
service partners enables us to create exceptional experiences that meet the
evolving needs of the global business events industry.”
He added: “Through strategic collaborations
and innovative platforms such as Cvent, we continue to enhance Dubai’s
visibility and strengthen meaningful connections with international planners
and stakeholders worldwide. This recognition is a testament to the strength of
our partnerships and Dubai’s ongoing commitment to shaping the future of the
business events sector while delivering long-term economic impact and
sustainable value.”
Gerrit Gräf, General Manager of JW Marriott
Marquis Hotel Dubai said: “We are honored to be recognized as the #1
Meeting Hotel in the Middle East & Africa by Cvent for the second year
running. It’s a strong reflection of the scale, consistency, and precision our
team delivers every day, as well as the trust our partners continue to place in
us. We value our partnership with Cvent and the role it plays in connecting us
with the global meetings and events community. More broadly, this
recognition speaks to the continued confidence in Dubai’s events industry, a
market that continues to evolve, grow, and set new benchmarks globally.”
He added: “As we move into the next phase of the hotel’s journey, with our recently announced enhancement programme, we look forward to welcoming our event partners to an even more elevated experience in the years ahead, building on what we do today, and taking it further.” -TradeArabia News Service