Event guide
GITEX Global 2026: a visitor's guide to Dubai
GITEX Global, billed by its organisers as the world's largest tech and AI show, has a new home this year. The GITEX Summit opens the week on 7 December 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, and the GITEX Global Expo then runs from 8 to 11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai, after many years at Dubai World Trade Centre. If you are coming for the show, this guide covers the essentials: dates, getting there, where to stay and how to make the most of your days in Dubai.
Key facts
- Dates: 7 to 11 December 2026. The GITEX Summit, a one-day leaders' programme, is on 7 December. The GITEX Global Expo runs from 8 to 11 December.
- Venue: the GITEX Summit on 7 December is at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The GITEX Global Expo, 8 to 11 December, is at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai.
- Opening hours: daily times are published by the organisers, so check the official GITEX site before you go.
- Tickets: register as a visitor on the official ticket page visit.gitex.com. Delegate, media, exhibitor and speaker registration is on gitex.com.
- Who it's for: technology and AI leaders, founders, startups, investors, government delegations and anyone whose work touches tech. Expand North Star, the startup and investor event, runs alongside GITEX at the same location.
- New this year: TechCation, the organisers' programme that pairs the show with things to see and do across Dubai in the winter season.
Getting there
- By metro: Expo 2020 Station on the Red Line is a few minutes' walk from the venue. From Jebel Ali Station it is seven stops with no change.
- By taxi or ride-hailing: Careem and Uber drop-off is on Boulevard 2020 Street, at the taxi and car drop-off area.
- By car: DEC has more than 1,500 parking spaces across Parking A, B and C, with a shuttle to the Arrivals Plaza. The venue says parking is free for all events at DEC.
- From the airport: DEC is about 40 km from Dubai International Airport (DXB), roughly 35 to 45 minutes by car depending on traffic. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is closer, but has fewer commercial flights.
Where to stay nearby
- Expo City Dubai: the closest option. Three hotels are within walking distance of the venue: Expo Village Serviced Apartments, Rove Hotel and Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai. Book early if you want to walk to the show.
- Dubai South: the wider district around Expo City and Al Maktoum International Airport, with more hotels and serviced apartments a short drive from the venue.
- Dubai Marina: further away, with a wide choice of hotels and restaurants and the beach close by. It is on the Red Line, with Expo 2020 Station further along the line. Check the RTA journey planner for the right train.
Buying while you're in Dubai?
If you're looking at property during your visit, check the real return before you commit. Our calculator shows the net yield after every cost, or message us about a specific unit.
Making the most of the trip
- Weather: December is the start of the cooler season. National Centre of Meteorology figures put average December temperatures across the UAE at roughly 18 to 22°C, with cooler evenings. A light layer helps for evenings and air-conditioned halls.
- Visas: some nationalities get a visa on arrival, others need to apply before travelling. Check the official UAE government portal u.ae and confirm with the UAE embassy in your country. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
- Dress: business or smart casual is the norm. Comfortable shoes help across large halls.
- Eating out: Expo City has cafés and restaurants on site, and Dubai Marina and JBR are a metro or taxi ride away for dinner.
- Stay a few extra days: the organisers' TechCation programme points visitors to December highlights such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Thinking about Dubai property while you're here?
GITEX's new home is in Expo City Dubai, part of the Dubai South district in the south of the city. It is an area the Dubai government has big plans for. In April 2024, Dubai approved the designs for a new AED 128 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, which it says will handle 260 million passengers a year once fully operational, with all operations at Dubai International Airport moving there in the coming years. Officials said the project would create workforce and housing requirements for over a million people living and working in Dubai South. Source: Dubai Media Office
A trip for a big show is also a good moment to look at property. You can see neighbourhoods, buildings and commutes in person, meet agents and developers face to face, and get a feel for daily life in a few days. Whether an area suits you depends on price, rent, service charges, vacancies and your timeline, so it is worth working out the net return, not just the headline yield, before you commit.
Try the free net yield calculatorTalk to Yield while you're in Dubai
Yield Properties LLC is an independent, RERA-licensed property advisory in Dubai, not tied to any developer or agency. We help investors buy, design, lease and exit, and we judge every decision on one number: your net return. Yield was founded by Reem Al Khatib, who co-founded GuestReady in the UAE and scaled it from a single property to 500+. If you are in town for GITEX and want an independent view on what to buy, what to pay and what a property will really earn, we would be glad to meet.
Or try the net yield calculatorSources: GITEX Global 2026 official site, Dubai Media Office, GITEX Global moves to Expo City Dubai (Oct 2025), Dubai Exhibition Centre visitor FAQs, Dubai Media Office, Al Maktoum International Airport (Apr 2024), UAE government portal, visas, Gulf News, December weather in the UAE (NCM data)
Last updated 12 October 2026. Event details can change, so check the official site before you travel.