GITEX Global has been an October fixture in Dubai for years. In 2026 it is not. The show runs 7-11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai, which means a new calendar slot, a new venue, and a new set of assumptions for anyone who exhibited or visited in 2025. With opening day about six weeks out, this is the point at which stand plans, freight and hotel blocks either hold together or start to fray.
What Has Actually Changed
The organiser, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), announced the relocation in October 2025. Its release says the show moves to DEC, which is undergoing a US$2.7 billion expansion and is described as the largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions venue in the region. The same release ties the move to room for growth in hall space and to Dubai’s D33 economic agenda.
Two details are worth keeping straight, because they are easy to blur in coverage:
- The $2.7 billion figure describes the DEC expansion programme as stated by the organiser. It is not a price tag on GITEX, and the release does not break it down by hall or phase.
- The 2025 edition ran 13-17 October at Dubai World Trade Centre, with the Expand North Star startup showcase at Dubai Harbour. The 2026 edition consolidates around Expo City.
The organiser’s closing release for 2025 also brands the December edition the first “GITEX TechCation.” The GITEX Scale Summit, a day of strategic dialogues, opens on 7 December and the exhibition runs 8-11 December. Expand North Star returns in a new format.
A Date Conflict You May Have Seen
At least one early report put the move at 9-13 November 2026. The organiser’s own releases and the Dubai Media Office announcement give 7-11 December, and that is the date to plan against. If a supplier, travel agent or freight forwarder quotes November, their paperwork predates the announcement and needs correcting before it drives a booking.
Why a Venue Move Is a Budget Event, Not Just a Map Change
For an exhibitor, a new venue resets a surprising number of line items that were stable from year to year.
Freight and customs timing. A December show changes when equipment must land in the UAE and when it can leave. Shippers also work against year-end schedules, so lead times that were comfortable for October may not be for December. Confirm the official freight forwarder, delivery windows and temporary-import procedure with the organiser rather than reusing last year’s.
Hotels and transport. DEC sits inside Expo City, not in the downtown corridor around DWTC. The organiser points to proximity to the planned Al Maktoum International Airport, but that is a future connection, not a reason to book differently this December. Price out transfer time from your preferred hotel district to the new halls before committing to a room block, and ask what shuttle provision the show will run.
Stand design and services. Ceiling height, rigging points, floor-loading limits, power distribution and wi-fi provision are venue-specific. A stand built to last year’s technical manual may not fit. Request the DEC exhibitor manual and treat any drawing approved against DWTC as provisional.
Staff scheduling. December is a busy tourism period in Dubai, and many exhibitors’ own sales teams are closing out the year. Late travel and leave bookings compound with seasonal fares.
What We Do Not Yet Know
The organiser’s announcement does not publish hall counts or total floor area for DEC, and it does not say which parts of the expanded venue will be operational for December. That is not a criticism; construction programmes change. It does mean exhibitors should ask three direct questions before signing off a stand: which halls will the show occupy, what is the confirmed floor plan, and what is the fallback if a section of the venue is not ready.
Gulfood offers a second data point. Its January 2026 edition ran across both DEC and the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, so the organiser is using the two sites in parallel during the transition. Whether any GITEX-branded activity stays outside DEC in December is something to confirm in writing.
Comparing 2025 and 2026 Fairly
The 2025 show reported more than 6,800 exhibitors, including 2,000 startups from 180 countries, and 1,200 investors. Those are organiser figures. We found no confirmed visitor total, so any attendance-based return calculation should wait for audited numbers. A different month and a larger venue may change the visitor mix, and one year is not enough to say how. If your 2025 lead volume was your benchmark, plan to measure 2026 separately instead of assuming continuity. Our piece on event ROI beyond badge scans covers how to set that baseline.
A Practical Sequence for the Weeks Left
- Obtain the DEC exhibitor manual and confirm your hall and stand position in writing.
- Re-quote freight against December delivery windows and the official forwarder.
- Rebook accommodation near DEC or confirm transfer arrangements.
- Check that your lead-retrieval rental or app licence is valid for the new venue and dates.
- Set a measured baseline for 2026 rather than inheriting 2025 targets.
For wider context on how big regional shows are reshaping the calendar, see our field guide to the modern tech conference circuit. Primary details are on the organiser’s pages for the DEC move and the 2025 closing results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is GITEX Global 2026?
GITEX Global 2026 runs 7-11 December 2026 at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. The GITEX Scale Summit opens on 7 December and the exhibition runs 8-11 December, according to the organiser.
Why did GITEX Global move from October?
The organiser says the relocation gives the show room to grow in hall space and aligns with Dubai’s broader economic agenda. It has not published a separate explanation for choosing December over October.
What is the $2.7 billion figure?
It is the value the organiser attaches to the expansion of Dubai Exhibition Centre, which it describes as the region’s largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions venue. It is a venue investment figure, not an event cost.
Should exhibitors rely on 2025 stand and freight plans?
No. Venue technical rules, delivery windows and transport times differ at the new site, and the date moved by about two months. Request the DEC exhibitor manual and re-quote freight and travel before committing.