Leading government and industry figures from the UAE will visit the UK capital later this week to participate in the formal inauguration of new facilities at ExCeL London, the leading events venue owned by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company).

ExCeL’s new facilities, earmarked as the Phase Two expansion, have been developed under a successful two-year construction programme backed by ADNEC that has led to the creation of significant additional event capacities at ExCeL.

Kevin Murphy, CEO of ExCeL London, said: “I am absolutely delighted at the upcoming participation of the UAE delegation in the inauguration of ExCeL’s second phase development on Thursday 24th June. It is only fitting that this ceremony will be conducted in the presence of many of our principal stakeholders who have so strongly endorsed ExCeL’s vision for the UK events industry”.

The delegation to ExCeL will be led by H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, ADNEC’s Chairman.

Other key members of the delegation include H E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; H.E. Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; H.E. Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Aldar Properties;  H.E. Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman  of Rotana Group; Ali Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC as well as other ADNEC Board Members; Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA); H.E. Khalifa Nasser Al Mansoori, Executive Director of the Accounts Department in ADIA; H.E. Mohammed Omar Abdulla, Under Secretary of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Planning and Economy; and H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH).

ExCeL Board members Matar Hamdan Al Ameri and Ralph Shipley, as well as Simon Horgan, ADNEC Group CEO and Ahmed Hussain, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), are other members of the delegation.

Since opening in 2000, ExCeL London has staged over 2,000 events welcoming over five million visitors from 200 countries. Seven of London’s top 10 trade shows are held at the venue. ExCeL also hosts major conferences, such as last year’s G20 London Summit.

ExCeL was acquired by ADNEC in 2008 as part of (ADNEC’s) strategy to develop a network of venues. Since the acquisition, ExCeL London has cemented its status in the events industry by picking up 12 major awards. The addition of the new facilities to ExCeL is expected to further augment ExCeL’s status as London’s biggest and most attractive events venue.