Choosing a venue is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your event, and we are always on the lookout for the most exciting locations and new venues around the region, here’s some of our top picks that will be emerging on the events scene this year.
Here are the top 10 venues we are excited about in 2022.
A remarkable feat of architectural innovation, the Museum of the Future has already become one of the most striking visual landmarks of Downtown Dubai, and this year we’ll get to see inside. The venue will not only offer a spectacular backdrop for corporate events, it will also align seamlessly with popular event themes, as it promises to focus on topics like climate change and ecology, health, wellness and spirituality, all brought to life through storytelling, technology and art.
2. Al Wasl Dome at Expo 2020 Dubai
The dramatic centrepiece of the Expo 2020 Dubai district has been the stage for some of the event’s most extraordinary immersive performances. Its remarkable 130-metre-wide, 67.5-metre-tall dome doubles as a 360-degree laser projection surface, which is the largest of its kind in the world. As a venue, it promises to deliver a mesmerising visual spectacle, combined with incredible technological infrastructure that will create a one-of-a-kind event, every time.
3. Nobu Hotel Riyadh
Expanding its footprint into Saudi Arabia for the first time, the Nobu brand is bringing its elegant Japanese heritage to the heart of downtown Riyadh. Catering to the corporate clientele while retaining its sense of laid-back luxury, the hotel’s meeting rooms combine a residential look and feel, with state-of-the-art technology and cityscape views. The venue’s two 300-guest ballrooms are purposely minimalist in design to allow event hosts to customise the finishing touches.
4. Atlantis The Royal Resort
Described as ‘a destination of impossibilities made possible’ the Palm Jumeirah’s second Atlantis resort looks set to be a fusion of elegant luxury living and mesmerising world-firsts. With its astonishing 8 celebrity chef restaurants and a range of indulgent wellness experiences, the venue is perfectly primed to host intimate team gatherings, while its iconic location on the Palm Crescent also offers an impressive backdrop for large-scale corporate events.
5. Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort
The northernmost Emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, offers a unique setting for corporate activities. With its magnificent mountain landscape, it provides a perfect retreat for events that aim to re-focus the mind. The Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort is set to be the UAE’s first overwater villa resort and will bring a sense of desert tranquillity to the beachside, with opportunities to deliver events that connect with nature through the hotel’s discovery and eco-learning centre.
6. Banyan Tree Al Ula
The Banyan Tree is one of several new developments emerging in the midst of the world’s largest living museum, Al Ula. Renowned for its natural beauty and archaeological mystique, Al Ula is the home of Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO heritage site and offers the perfect fusion of history, culture, art and nature, to provide a spectacular backdrop for a memorable event. With the Banyan Tree’s plastic-free pledge, this property will be an ideal venue for sustainable and environmentally conscious events
7. Katara Towers Doha
A new futuristic landmark to the north of Qatar’s capital city, the Katara Towers will be home to two luxury hotel brands, Fairmont and Raffles. The properties will be housed within two towers, inspired in their design by the national emblem of Qatar. These lavish hotels are sure to bring an impressive array of sophisticated events spaces to the Lusail City district, which will also be home to one of the venues for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
8. Jumeirah Muscat Bay
The renowned Jumeirah brand is heading to Oman for the first time, with a boutique hotel development in Muscat Bay. As the country builds its profile as a destination for business events as well as leisure travel, the property is set to feature extensive conference and banqueting facilities. Capturing the trademark luxury of a Jumeirah resort, this property is also strategically located just 15 minutes outside the city, nestled between the pristine Gulf of Oman and the stunning Hajar mountains.
9. Waldorf Astoria Kuwait
Located at the Avenue Mall, the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is a destination where you can combine a vibrant business event with an immersive city experience. With all the facilities and infrastructure of an up-scale cosmopolitan venue, the hotel is in a prime position to showcase everything that the city has to offer, with direct access to world-class shopping and dining experiences and within easy reach of Kuwait’s most renowned historical and cultural sites.
10. The Palm Jumeirah (Hilton, Radisson, Marriot)
A destination unlike any other, The Palm Jumeirah offers an iconic setting for any event, with each hospitality venue providing a unique visual aspect combined with a defining sense of luxury. This year will see three big brands – Hilton, Radisson and Marriot – expand their Dubai portfolio with new properties in this prestigious island community. These developments will add to The Palm’s impressive array of venues that provide a stimulating and professional event setting, combined with an essence of exclusivity.
The venue for your event says a lot about your organisation and how you hope to engage and interact with your audience. Of course, there are many things to consider when making your choice – the ease of travel and logistics, the physical space and technological infrastructure you will need, and the experience you want to give your guests – to name a few. We’re looking forward to seeing the new venues of 2022 host inspiring, sophisticated and memorable events that leave a lasting impression on everyone involved.
