The Dubai Municipality and Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) are backing a brand new attractions summit, focused on enhancing guest experience, driving operational efficiency and optimising revenue performance as competition in the UAE market intensifies.

With UAE theme park revenues expected to increase from US$470m (€42.7m, £350.8m) in 2016 to US$837m (€756.4m, £624.8m) in 2019, the region is expecting some serious growth in the attractions sector. By 2020, ten major new theme parks and two safari parks are scheduled to have opened.

In response to this, the Theme Park & Leisure Attractions (TPLA) Experience Tech UAE will bring together relevant government bodies, technology industry experts, developers, consultants and solution providers to provide a specialised platform in the UAE for operations and technology practitioners. At the summit, delegates can gain insight into strategies, solutions and innovations to integrate and optimise the latest technologies for theme parks and leisure attractions.

Topics to be discussed at the new event include driving operational efficiency through technology, delivering care free and fun guest experiences, risk management and security processes, generating new sources of revenue and interactive connections between park and guest.

A strong lineup of speakers has been set for the debut event, including Chris Siegle, PMP/CGC attractions manager at IMG Worlds of Adventure; Ghassan Kesti, park manager for Dreamland Aqua Park; Heidi Pérez Cao Ova, vice president of Marine Mammals and Water Park Operations at Atlantis the Palm; and Margreet Papamicheal, director of Economics, at AECOM.

TPLA Experience Tech UAE takes place on 5-6 September at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dubai. For more information, click here.