Expo City Dubai events 2026 are entering the busiest stretch of its exhibition calendar. From broadcast technology this week to the first GITEX Global held away from Dubai World Trade Centre in December, the former Expo 2020 site has become a second home for the city’s biggest trade shows, and Expo City Dubai events in 2026 now cover media, education, jewellery, fitness, cars, art and artificial intelligence.
Almost all of that activity happens at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), the venue beside Expo 2020 Metro Station, which is operated by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). This guide sets out the dates that matter for the rest of the year, what changes for GITEX visitors, and the practical questions residents keep asking: how to get there, where to park and what to book in advance.
Expo City Dubai events in 2026
DWTC now runs two venues side by side: its original halls on Sheikh Zayed Road and DEC at Expo City. Its year-end calendar, published by the Government of Dubai Media Office in August, splits the major shows between the two. Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, said operating the venues as complementary sites gives organisers the capacity to stage several large events within a concentrated calendar.
For visitors, the practical effect is simple: check the venue on every badge. Shows that once sat on Sheikh Zayed Road now appear among Dubai Exhibition Centre events, and turning up at the wrong venue means a long cross-city trip.
The venue itself is growing. DEC is undergoing an expansion worth about $2.7 billion (roughly Dh10 billion) designed to make it the largest purpose-built indoor events venue in the region, with completion reportedly scheduled for 2031. For now the building is split into North Halls and South Halls, which matters because Expo City Dubai exhibitions are often assigned to one wing only.
Two shows have already taken place this season: GISEC, the cybersecurity exhibition (16–18 September), and the Middle East Coatings Show (28–30 September). The remaining Expo City Dubai events 2026 run from this week until mid-December.
GITEX Global at Dubai Exhibition Centre
The headline move of the year is GITEX Global. After more than four decades at Dubai World Trade Centre, the show its organisers bill as the world’s largest tech and startup event relocates to DEC. GITEX Expo City is a different event in shape as well as location: it has moved from its traditional October slot to December and now runs across five days.
- GITEX Summit: 7 December
- GITEX Global expo: 8–11 December, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai
Expand North Star, the startup and investor event that was staged separately at Dubai Harbour in 2025, rejoins GITEX under one roof. The Dubai Media Office said the 2026 edition would bring the two together in a single location as part of a wider citywide programme called GITEX TechCation, which pairs the exhibition with leisure experiences across Dubai.
According to the official GITEX Global website, the show will occupy about 2.2 million square feet, with more than 20,000 parking spaces on site. Its themed zones include data centres, robotics, mobility, quantum computing and new energy. Agentic AI, meaning systems that can carry out multi-step tasks on their own, is another focus, and it is the same technology the UAE is building into public services, as our explainer on agentic AI in UAE government services sets out.
GITEX is split between two venues: the GITEX Scale Summit takes place on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, while the main exhibition and conferences run from 8 to 11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai. For the complete breakdown of dates, registration and transport, read our GITEX Global 2026 dates, venue and visitor guide. Check the venue shown on your registration before travelling, because the two locations are far apart.
The move also changes the visitor profile. With December dates, cooler weather and a five-day format, GITEX Expo City is clearly pitched at delegates who will stay in Dubai for several days rather than fly in for one.
Other major exhibitions and dates
GITEX is the biggest name, but it is far from the only one. The table below lists the Dubai Exhibition Centre events confirmed by DWTC’s calendar and the venue’s own listings for the rest of 2026.
| Event | Dates | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| CABSAT | 5–7 October | Broadcast and media (South Halls) |
| SAT Expo | 5–7 October | Satellite and space communications (South Halls) |
| World Tour 2026 | 14 October | IT conference (South Halls) |
| Baby & Kids Expo | 22–24 October | Parenting and children’s products |
| The School & Nursery Show | 24–25 October | Education |
| Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai | 27–29 October | Jewellery trade (North Halls) |
| Dubai Muscle Show & Active Show | 30 October–1 November | Fitness and wellness |
| Automechanika Dubai | 10–12 November | Automotive aftermarket (North and South Halls) |
| ICAI Annual International Conference | 14–15 November | Accountancy (44th edition) |
| World Art Dubai | 19–22 November | Art fair |
| Onset Expo | 20–22 November | Exhibition |
| GITEX Global | 8–11 December | Technology, AI and startups |
Families and hobbyists will find the most to do at the consumer-facing Expo City Dubai exhibitions, such as Baby & Kids Expo, The School & Nursery Show, Dubai Muscle Show and World Art Dubai. The fitness show also overlaps with the start of the Dubai Fitness Challenge 2026, which runs citywide from 31 October to 29 November. Trade events such as Automechanika Dubai and CABSAT are aimed mainly at industry professionals, so check whether a show is open to the general public before you travel.
If you are visiting Dubai with children and want to add a separate day out around an exhibition, Dubai Safari Park Season 8 opens on 12 October, while Global Village Dubai Season 31 opens on 14 October. These attractions are not next to Expo City, so plan them as separate trips rather than trying to fit them around a short exhibition visit. If your interest is entertainment rather than trade, our guide to must-attend events for gamers in Dubai covers the 2026–2027 calendar.
Not every big name has moved. Beautyworld Dubai (6–8 October), WETEX (20–22 October) and Big 5 Global (23–26 November) remain at Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Metro, parking and taxi options
Getting to DEC is easier than its location on the southern edge of the city suggests, and the metro is the most reliable way to reach Expo City Dubai exhibitions on peak show days.
Dubai Metro. Take the Red Line towards Expo 2020 and get off at Expo 2020 Station, the last stop on the Route 2020 branch. The station is linked to the venue and DEC is a few minutes’ walk away. Riders starting from Jebel Ali Station are seven stops away. The station also has an ATM and a convenience store.
Parking. Visitor guidance issued for DWTC-run shows at the venue says parking is free for all events at Dubai Exhibition Centre. One main car park, beside Expo Village, serves both North and South Halls. Drivers usually approach from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) or Expo Road (E77). On the busiest days, such as GITEX, arrive early, because the walk from the car park to the halls can take several minutes.
Taxi and ride-hailing. RTA taxis, Careem and Uber all serve Expo City Dubai. Expect queues for pick-ups when a large show closes for the day, so the metro is often faster on the way home.
Flying in. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is the closest airport to DEC. Currently, it handles a limited number of commercial flights, so most international visitors will still arrive through Dubai International (DXB).
| Option | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro (Red Line) | Peak days, GITEX, solo visitors | Expo 2020 Station sits beside the venue |
| Car | Families, early arrivals | Parking is free; one main car park serves both wings |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | Groups, late finishes | Expect queues at closing time |
Tickets and visitor planning
Dubai Exhibition Centre events each set their own ticketing, and most ask visitors to register online before the day. Pre-registration also shortens the queue at security, which is the main bottleneck at large exhibitions.
For GITEX, register through the official GITEX registration portal. The portal does not currently display one fixed public price for every 2026 visitor pass, so check the pass type, access days and final price before booking. Expand North Star and the main GITEX exhibition have different access options.
A few planning points apply across all Expo City Dubai events 2026:
- Stay nearby for multi-day shows. Rove, Expo Village Serviced Apartments and Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai are all within walking distance of the halls.
- Food is on site. Supermarkets including Spinneys operate at Expo City, alongside cafés and restaurants in the wider district.
- Ask the venue directly. DEC’s customer service line is 800 EVENT (38368).
- Check dates before you travel. Organisers occasionally adjust schedules, so confirm on Dubai Exhibition Centre’s What’s On page or the event’s own website.
The next milestone is CABSAT and SAT Expo, which open on 5 October, and the season builds towards GITEX Expo City in December. How smoothly the first GITEX at Expo City runs will show whether DEC is ready to become the city’s main stage for business events.
For more details about upcoming events in Dubai and the UAE, follow the link to Dubai Press Events.