Clifford Chance advises Informa on strategic partnership with DWTC’s B2B Events business
10 February 2026
- Mohammed Al-Shukairy, Edward Page, Chinwe Odimba-Chapman, Sonia Gilbert, Michael Rueter, Sabra Ferhat, Callum Gribbin, Natasha El-Najjar, Sima Al Baterni, Yara Hage, Paul Harrington, Archie Zverev, Laura Conway, Ella Burnside, Eloise Robson, Mhairi Cruickshank, Selman Ansari, Mehran Azzam, Jamie Andrew, Ryan Lin, Karim Vellani
- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London
Clifford Chance advises Informa on strategic partnership with DWTC’s B2B Events business
International law firm Clifford Chance has advised Informa – a FTSE-100 company and international market leader in live B2B events, digital services, and academic markets – on its strategic partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre’s (DWTC) B2B Events business.
First announced in March 2025, the partnership now branded “inD”, is headquartered in Dubai and combines Informa’s wholly owned B2B Live Events business in the United Arab Emirates and the wider IMEA region with DWTC's B2B Live Events business, creating a truly global powerhouse in exhibitions and event management across the IMEA region and Informa's largest partnership business globally.
inD launches with an annual revenue base expected to exceed US$650 million, and ownership of 40+ major B2B event brands across a range of industries, including healthcare (WHX), energy (Middle East Energy), aviation (Dubai Air Show), food and beverage (Gulfood), information and communications technology (GITEX) and information security (GISEC).
Clifford Chance partner and transaction lead Mohammed Al-Shukairy (Regional Managing Partner, Middle East and Türkiye), commented: "We are delighted to have advised Informa on this highly strategic transaction and one that reinforces Dubai's global positioning in rapidly growing sectors. It is exciting to see the growth of major events in the region and inD will no doubt be at the epicenter of that growth."
The cross-border Clifford Chance team advising Informa included senior associates Mhairi Cruickshank, Ismaila Ngum, Deniz Yetkin, Callum Gribbin, Natasha Maria El-Najjar Sima Al Baterni, associates Yara Hage and Karim Vellani in the UAE. From London, Jamie Andrew (Counsel) Ryan (Chiungting) Lin (Associate) advised on the commercial contract aspects. Edward Page (Partner), Paul Harrington (Senior Associate) and Archie Zverev (Associate) provided advice on tax aspects; Chinwe Odimba-Chapman (Partner), Laura Conway (Senior Associate) and Ella Burnside (Associate) advised on employment; Sonia Gilbert (Partner) advised on incentives; and Michael Rueter (Counsel), Sabra Ferhat (Counsel), Mehran Azzam (Associate), (UAE) as well as Selman Ansari (Counsel) (KSA) and Eloise R. (Associate) advised on antitrust matters.
