Dubai event · 2026-12-07 – 2026-12-11
GITEX Global 2026 at Expo City Dubai: Dates, Venue and What to Plan
GITEX Global 2026 takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai from 7 to 11 December. The Summit is on 7 December; the main exhibition runs 8 to 11 December. This is GITEX's first edition outside Dubai World Trade Centre in over 40 years. Over 6,800 companies and 200,000 visitors from 180+ countries are expected.
Open December 2026 calendar →
Quick answer
GITEX Global 2026 is at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
- GITEX Scale Summit: 7 December 2026
- Main exhibition: 8-11 December 2026
- Full event span: 7-11 December 2026
- Venue: Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai
- Metro: Dubai Metro Red Line to Expo City station
Key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7-11 December 2026 |
| Summit | 7 December (conference and keynote day) |
| Exhibition | 8-11 December |
| Venue | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai |
| Emirate | Dubai |
| Expected visitors | 200,000+ from 180+ countries |
| Companies exhibiting | 6,800+ |
| Government entities | 400+ |
| Venue history | First GITEX outside DWTC since 1981 |
| Source | gitex.com/gitex-global-2026 |
What is GITEX Global
GITEX Global is the world's largest technology event by scale. Since its launch in 1981, it has been held at Dubai World Trade Centre. The 2026 edition marks a major shift: the full event moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai.
Expo City Dubai is the former Expo 2020 Dubai site. Dubai Exhibition Centre is the permanent convention complex built as part of that development. The move significantly expands GITEX's available floor space and brings the event into an internationally established venue with direct metro access.
GITEX runs concurrent sub-events: North Star Dubai (startup ecosystem), GITEX Impact (climate and sustainability tech), and Future Urbanism.
Why GITEX matters for UAE residents and business visitors
GITEX week in early December is one of the most concentrated business periods in Dubai.
For founders, investors, and business operators, the event is not only a technology exhibition. It is a planning anchor. A large part of the global tech and investment community that operates in or through Dubai is physically present in the city during this week.
People attending GITEX commonly use the same trip to: - Meet company formation consultants or visit free zones - Progress bank account applications (requires a physical meeting in UAE banking) - Discuss corporate tax, VAT, or e-invoicing compliance with an accountant - Attend investor meetings arranged around the event - Review office or co-working options at Expo City or elsewhere in Dubai
For anyone planning a Dubai business trip in the second half of 2026, the 7-11 December window is one of the highest-value periods to be in the city.
Who should pay attention
- Technology founders and startups exhibiting, sourcing, or meeting investors
- Investors and VCs doing deal flow in the MENA market
- Free zone and mainland business operators attending sector meetings
- Company formation clients combining a formation consultation with GITEX attendance
- AI, smart home, and construction-tech companies active in the Gulf region
- Government technology teams from across the region
- Finance and banking professionals with client meetings in the same week
Getting there
Expo City Dubai is accessible by Dubai Metro Red Line (direct service from central Dubai, approximately 40 minutes from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station). The venue has dedicated parking.
December is peak season in Dubai. Book accommodation well in advance. Hotels near Expo City and across Sheikh Zayed Road fill quickly in the first two weeks of December.
Planning notes for business visitors
Book travel early. December is high season in Dubai. Flights and hotels from Europe, Asia, and the Americas fill several months ahead.
Combine meetings with exhibition attendance. Schedule investor, legal, banking, or formation meetings in the days immediately before or after GITEX, when your key contacts are also in the city.
Company setup. A GITEX trip is a practical time for an initial consultation with a formation agent, a free zone visit, or a bank account meeting. The process itself takes weeks -- do not plan to complete formation in one trip, but you can advance it significantly.
Tax and compliance. Corporate Tax, VAT, and UAE e-invoicing requirements apply to companies operating here. Use the trip to meet a qualified adviser if those questions are open.
Registration. Check the official GITEX website for registration options and deadlines. Visitor and exhibitor registration categories differ.
Calendar connection
See the [December 2026 UAE Calendar](/calendar/december-2026-uae-calendar) for a full list of December 2026 events -- including F1 Abu Dhabi GP week immediately before GITEX.
Related Guidex topics
| Topic | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Company setup in Dubai | Many GITEX visitors use the trip to progress company formation |
| Business banking in UAE | Bank meetings are a common GITEX week task |
| UAE VAT registration | Relevant for new and existing UAE businesses |
| UAE Corporate Tax | Applicable to all UAE entities from 2023 |
| UAE e-invoicing 2026 | New compliance requirements relevant to tech-sector businesses |
| Dubai Life Setup | For those considering relocating or taking a long-term UAE role |
Source note
Dates and venue confirmed from gitex.com/gitex-global-2026 (official GITEX source). Venue change (DWTC to Expo City Dubai) confirmed from UAE Media Office (mediaoffice.ae) and Dubai Exhibition Centre (dubaiexhibitioncentre.com). Scale figures (200,000+, 6,800+ companies, 180+ countries) from gitex.com official. Rechecked 2026-06-06.
No speakers, ticket prices, agenda sessions, or sponsor names are claimed -- those require their own official source confirmation before inclusion.
Related guide
How to Set Up a Mainland Company in Dubai→Planning around this date?
We help with visa renewals, permit timing, and compliance deadlines around UAE holidays and events.
Chat on WhatsApp →