Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai Women’s Association (DWA) have signed an innovative service agreement which will see DWTC manage and service all wedding and social functions held at the DWA’s new ballroom and function area.
The outsourced service agreement is the first of its kind signed by DWTC, and draws upon its extensive experience in hosting weddings and major functions for over 30 years in the UAE. It represents a key part of the group’s growth strategy, which looks to draw upon its unmatched range of professional competencies to build long-term partnerships with local organisations.
“As President of Dubai Women’s Association, I am pleased that our partnership with DWTC will provide us with decades of hospitality services and wedding management experience, to complement the Association’s new, exciting venue – the Al Zaheyah hall,” said H.H. Sheikha Ameena bint Humaid Al Tayer, President of DWA.
“We are confident that its capacity to host up to 800 people per event, while affording guests an environment of privacy, comfort and excellent service expected of a UAE national wedding, will make it an immediate and premier choice for weddings and family functions from its opening day,” Sheikha Ameena added.
“DWTC’s experience in supporting large functions – and in particular its strong track record in hosting local weddings – has meant that our Hospitality Division is one of the busiest and fastest-growing in the region,” said Afra Al Basti, DWTC Wedding Sales & Marketing Manager.
“While this division has often provided support for a wide range of external events in the past, we are now at the stage of our development where we are able to support the high-level requirements involved in long-term outsourced service agreements of distinguished groups like Dubai Women’s Association,” added Al Basti.
DWA promises that the huge 1,100 sqm ballroom at the DWA’s Centre in Al Baraha – next to Dubai Hospital – has all the facilities to make it one of the best medium-to-large scale venues in town, conveniently located for parties from a wide area stretching from Sharjah, Deira and Bur Dubai to Jumeirah.
Due for completion during Ramadan 1427 (2006), the DWA’s new facilities will include an impressive large decorative foyer, a Majlis, a bride room, a dedicated room for musicians or a full-scale band, state of the art audio-visual equipment and the ‘Clock Room’ – a dedicated room where the outer national dress (Abaya) can be placed and stored during the ceremony.
“Everyone dreams of having the perfect wedding. Achieving this requires that the event be handled by professionals capable of delivering the highest possible standards, and we are pleased to be extending such services and management to the DWA. Together, we intend to deliver the best and most beautiful wedding experiences in the UAE,” added Al Basti.
Under the agreement, DWA will be supported by a permanent team of DWTC professionals with unmatched experience in making national weddings an occasion to remember. Their skill-set includes providing arrangements, layout, settings and top-flight catering, capable of looking after substantial Emirati banquets.
In order to better serve and understand the high number of enquiries that are generated during the summer season, DWTC have a permanent team of UAE national specialists as part of the sales team in order to provide an immediate and in-depth understanding of what is needed, right from the first telephone call.
Representatives from DWTC suggest that in the first year, as many as 50 weddings will be held at the DWA facilities. The DWTC team of wedding organisers currently arrange and organise as many as 15-22 weddings per week during the summer season – at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
