The communications industry has grown exponentially in the region throughout the last decade, with advertising spend increasing from $6m (Dhs22m) in 1990 to $280m (Dhs1bn) in 2010; and public relations spend increasing from $47m (Dhs172m) to $1.1bn (Dhs4bn), the Corporate Communications Conference, now in its fifth year, will be highlighting significant topics such as online communications, the impact of social media, establishing a strategic communications function and crisis communications. The main conference is taking place today and tomorrow and will close on Thursday with an online communications workshop.