GITEX GLOBAL is the week Dubai becomes the centre of the tech world — and in 2026 it changes more than it has in over four decades. The 46th edition leaves its historic home at Dubai World Trade Centre, moves from October to December, and takes over the brand-new Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: the main exhibition is NOT at the World Trade Centre this year. Here is everything confirmed so far — dates, venues, tickets, transport and what to see — so you can plan the week properly.
GITEX GLOBAL 2026 at a Glance
- Dates: 7–11 December 2026
- 7 December: The GITEX Summit, Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
- 8–11 December: GITEX GLOBAL Expo & Conferences, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai
- Edition: 46th
- Theme: “Global Reset 2027, Through A New Lens”
- Expected scale (organisers’ figures): 200,000+ technology executives, 6,800 exhibitors, 180+ countries, 400+ government entities
- Startups: Expand North Star runs alongside the expo, 8–10 December, same venue
- Tickets: official site only — visit.gitex.com
The Big Change: Two Venues, Two Ends of Dubai
For more than 45 years, GITEX meant one place: the halls of Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road. In October 2025, organiser DWTC announced the show had outgrown them. Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai — the site of Expo 2020 — is being expanded under a Dh10 billion (about US$2.7 billion) masterplan, and its first phase alone delivers 140,000 square metres of indoor event space with capacity for 50,000 visitors a day. That is the room GITEX now needs.
The 2026 week is therefore split in two. It opens on Monday 7 December with The GITEX Summit at DWTC’s Sheikh Maktoum Hall — a high-level day of policymakers, technology executives and investors discussing sovereign AI, semiconductors, connectivity and the economics of emerging technology, aimed at senior delegate pass holders. Then, from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 December, the full GITEX GLOBAL Expo and its conference stages run at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City. The two venues sit at opposite ends of the Metro’s Red Line, roughly 45 minutes apart — so check which day you are attending before you set off, because thousands of people will inevitably turn up at the wrong one.
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What to See at GITEX GLOBAL 2026
Artificial intelligence, everywhere. AI is the headline act: sovereign AI programmes, the data centres being built to power them, and AI applied to government services, health, finance and industry. Under the “Global Reset 2027” theme, expect the big conversations to be about which countries and companies control the infrastructure of the AI era — models, chips, energy and data.
Government technology. More than 400 government entities are expected, and Dubai’s own digital government is always a showpiece: paperless services, smart city platforms and the next wave of UAE digital services usually launch or preview here. If you work with the public sector anywhere in the region, this is the floor to walk.
Startups at Expand North Star. The startup and investor show moves under the same roof as GITEX for the first time, running 8–10 December at DEC. Thousands of startups exhibit, investors hold pre-arranged meetings, and the Supernova pitch competition puts early-stage founders on stage in front of serious money. For founders, many say this is where the real business of GITEX week happens.
Frontier tech. Cybersecurity, quantum computing, robotics, semiconductors, new energy and future mobility all have dedicated space. In past editions the halls have mixed humanoid robots and flying-taxi prototypes with the enterprise software that actually gets bought — go expecting spectacle, but plan your meetings around the stands that matter to your work.
How to Attend: Registration and Tickets
Registration is through the official ticket site, visit.gitex.com — buy only there, as resold badges are a recurring scam around big Dubai shows. The Visitor Pass covers the four expo days at Expo City (8–11 December). It was priced at AED 480 during the early-bird window, which closed on 25 October 2026, and the standard price has been listed at AED 650; pass types and prices can change as the show approaches, so confirm the live price on the official page before you pay. Higher-tier delegate passes add conference and summit access — the 7 December Summit day at DWTC is aimed at selected delegate pass holders rather than general visitors.
Two practical notes. First, register well before December: badge collection queues on the opening morning are legendary, and some pass categories sell out. Second, if you need a UAE visa to attend, start now — the organisers offer visa support, and they warn that processing can take up to six weeks for some nationalities.
Getting There: Metro, Shuttles and Parking
By Metro (recommended). Dubai Metro’s Red Line connects both venues. For the Summit on 7 December, ride to World Trade Centre Station, which is directly at DWTC. For the Expo at Expo City, stay on the Red Line’s Expo branch to Expo 2020 Station, the transport interchange for Expo City with pedestrian connections straight to the exhibition centre. The organisers recommend a Silver or Gold nol card for multi-day attendance. From Dubai International Airport, DWTC is about 20 minutes by Metro; Expo City is the far end of the same line, so allow close to an hour.
By shuttle. Dedicated event shuttles will run directly between DWTC and Dubai Exhibition Centre during the week, plus hotel and exhibitor shuttles through the venue’s Transportation Hub — useful if your meetings split across both sites.
By car. DEC has multiple visitor parking areas (signed P1 to P5) plus overflow parking with shuttle connections, and designated drop-off points. Careem and Uber operate around the clock at both venues. Traffic around Expo City will be heavy at opening and closing times; the Metro genuinely is the fastest option.
Where to Stay
The official GITEX hotel programme (run with Atelier by Informa) offers rates up to 40% off across 80+ Dubai properties, with complimentary daily shuttles to the venue — worth checking first. Beyond that, the smart strategy is to stay on the Red Line: Expo City has its own hotel on site, Dubai South and Jebel Ali are the closest districts to DEC, and anywhere from JLT and Dubai Marina through Downtown to the World Trade Centre area gives you a one-seat Metro ride. Book early — GITEX week fills hotels across the city, and December is peak season in Dubai, with average temperatures of 21–22°C bringing the winter crowds.
Flying in? Emirates, an official partner, is offering registered attendees a discount (promo code EVE6GTG, up to 10% off eligible return fares for travel into Dubai between 2–16 December 2026) — details are on the event’s plan-your-visit page.
Tips for First-Timers
- Double-check your venue each day. 7 December = DWTC. 8–11 December = Expo City. This is the single most common 2026 mistake waiting to happen.
- Arrive early, especially on 8 December. Opening-day entry and badge queues at GITEX are measured in tens of minutes, not minutes.
- Wear serious walking shoes. DEC’s first phase alone is 140,000 sqm. You will walk kilometres a day.
- Plan meetings before you land. Download the official event app when it releases, shortlist your must-see stands by hall, and book meetings in advance — serendipity is great, but the floor is too big to rely on it.
- Split your days by goal. One day for the big AI and government halls, one for Expand North Star if startups are your world, and leave gaps — the best conversations happen between sessions.
- Carry a power bank and a water bottle. Chargers and quiet corners are scarce by mid-afternoon.
- Give yourself a Dubai evening. December is Dubai at its best — cooler weather, outdoor dining and a packed city calendar. The trip should not be all exhibition hall.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is GITEX GLOBAL 2026?
7–11 December 2026. The GITEX Summit takes place on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, and the main expo runs 8–11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
Is GITEX still at Dubai World Trade Centre?
Only for the opening Summit day on 7 December. The main exhibition has moved to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai — the first time in the show’s 46 editions that the expo floor is not at DWTC.
How much does a GITEX GLOBAL 2026 ticket cost?
The Visitor Pass (covering the four expo days) was AED 480 in the early-bird window that ended on 25 October 2026, with the standard price listed at AED 650 on the official ticket site. Prices and pass types can change — check visit.gitex.com for the live price, and never buy badges from unofficial resellers.
What is the nearest Metro station to GITEX 2026?
For the Expo at Expo City: Expo 2020 Station, at the end of the Dubai Metro Red Line’s Expo branch. For the 7 December Summit: World Trade Centre Station, also on the Red Line.
I’m a startup founder — is GITEX worth it?
Very likely, yes. Expand North Star, the startup and investor show with the Supernova pitch competition, runs 8–10 December 2026 inside the same venue as the main expo, putting founders in front of thousands of investors and enterprise buyers in one trip.
