GITEX Global 2026 at Expo City Dubai: stand design, hostesses and photo and video coverage
GITEX Global moves to Expo City Dubai this year, which changes the layout, the access and the build rules you may know from earlier editions. Here is how exhibitors can plan the stand, the team and the content.
Short answer
GITEX Global 2026 is on 7 to 11 December: a summit on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, then the four-day expo from 8 to 11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai. With about five weeks left, brands that still need a stand should lock the design now. Hostesses, promoters, photography and video can be booked later.
| Event | GITEX Global 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 to 11 December 2026 (summit 7 Dec, expo 8 to 11 Dec) |
| Venue | Summit: Dubai World Trade Centre. Expo: Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai |
| Stand booking | Through the organiser's Exhibit Now form at gitex.com |
| What we do | Stand design and build, hostesses and promoters, photo and video coverage |
What changed this year
For 2026 GITEX Global leaves the Dubai World Trade Centre for the expo and moves to the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. The one-day summit stays at the World Trade Centre on 7 December, and the expo follows from 8 to 11 December. A new venue means new halls, new loading routes and new exhibitor rules, so read the organiser's exhibitor manual as soon as you book.
GITEX reported more than 200,000 visitors from 180 countries for the 2025 edition, according to Gulf News. That crowd is why a stand has to explain what you do in a few seconds.
Stand design: what to settle first
- The message. One line a visitor can read from the aisle. Technology stands often try to say everything, and visitors read nothing.
- The demo area. Decide where products are shown and how many people can watch at once.
- Meeting space. Closed or semi-closed meeting areas win more serious conversations than a table in the aisle.
- Power, data and screens. Order what you need early. The organiser usually sells electrical points, internet and rigging separately.
- Storage. A small locked store for stock, chargers and spare devices keeps the stand clean.
Our guide to what decides exhibition stand cost in Dubai explains how size, open sides and technology change the quote, and the exhibition stand checklist shows what to do step by step.
Hostesses and promoters on the stand
A trained team keeps the stand alive when your own staff are in meetings. Typical roles are greeters who welcome visitors and direct them, demo hosts who run the product walkthrough, and lead-capture hosts who scan badges and note what each visitor wants. Brief them on the product, the three questions visitors ask most and how to pass a serious lead to the right colleague. See how to hire promoters in Dubai or our promoters and brand ambassadors service.
Photo and video coverage
Exhibition content is useful long after the show: a short film of the stand, photos of your team with visitors, clips of the demo and quick portraits of your speakers. Decide the shot list before the first day, name one person on your side to approve content and agree how fast you need the first photos, ideally the same evening for social media. Read what to book for event photography and video coverage.
A timeline for the next five weeks
- This week: confirm the stand space with the organiser and send the builder your brief and the exhibitor manual.
- Next week: approve the design and the graphics. Submit the drawings to the organiser by their deadline.
- Weeks three and four: fabrication and printing. Book the hostesses, the photographer and the videographer.
- Final week: build, brief the team, test the screens and set up lead capture.
If you are short of time, send us the show details and we will tell you what is realistic.
Questions
When is GITEX Global 2026?
GITEX Global 2026 runs from 7 to 11 December 2026, with a summit on 7 December and the four-day expo from 8 to 11 December.
Where is GITEX Global 2026 held?
The expo is held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. The one-day summit is at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Can I still get a stand built for GITEX Global 2026?
With about five weeks left, it is still possible for a modular or lightly customised stand if you confirm the design quickly. Fully custom builds need more time. Confirm your space with the organiser first.
Do I need hostesses at GITEX?
They are not required, but a trained team keeps visitors engaged while your own staff are in meetings and helps capture leads.
