Dallas Market Center to Develop and Manage Dubai Global Connect Marketplace

September 29, 2020

Dallas Market Center has signed a multi-year development and management agreement with Dubai Global Connect, the new 10-million-square-foot wholesale marketplace in Dubai opening in 2023. The deal was signed with the Dubai Global Connect ownership team, comprising the Investment Corporation of Dubai in partnership with Dubai South, an emerging master-planned district. 

Currently under construction, Dubai Global Connect will be the first permanent B2B marketplace for consumer goods in the Middle East, open year round to qualified retail buyers and designers, manufacturers and industry professionals. It will feature permanent showrooms, exhibition space, an innovation hub, auditorium, meeting rooms, offices and private warehousing for tenants, as well as wholesale consumer goods including home furnishings, fashion and food.

Located at the crossroads of Dubai’s logistics corridor in the Dubai South district and adjacent to Al Maktoum Airport and Jebel Ali Port, Dubai Global Connect will provide premium services for on-site meetings and events as well as a  digital wholesale trading platform. 

“Establishing a permanent marketplace is perfectly timed as event producers and their attendees cope with reduced travel budgets and the need for smaller, more controlled gatherings,” said Douraid Zaghouani, COO of ICD and chairman of Dubai Global Connect. “To help realize our vision and to develop and manage this monumental project we are excited to have Dallas Market Center on board.”

For the past year, the Dubai Global Connect ownership team has carried out an international search for a suitable partner capable of furthering their vision of a global wholesale marketplace in Dubai. Their criteria included a sustained record of international trade center and trade event management, facility design and management expertise, consumer products industry knowledge and an understanding of international sourcing dynamics.  

“We are pleased to join this respected team creating a global destination for wholesale trade in Dubai, a historic and modern crossroads for commerce,” said Cindy Morris, Dallas Market Center president and CEO. “The market for new products moves faster than ever and demands a marketplace that exceeds modern expectations. We look forward to utilizing our experience, skills and assets in design, development, operations, events and marketing to launch a thoughtful and contemporary marketplace facilitating trade year-round and around the clock.”

 

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MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.