GITEX Global 2026 is a complete reinvention. GITEX 5.0 — the 46th edition — moves from its 45-year home at DWTC to a new location, a new date and a new format. The event runs 7–11 December 2026 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai — a $2.7 billion purpose-built venue 1.5 times the size of DWTC. Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the guidance of HH Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, the move advances the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

For brands planning to exhibit, every assumption from previous editions needs revisiting. Bigger halls. Longer sight lines. A December date that places GITEX at the heart of Dubai’s peak tourism season — turning the event into the world’s first TechCation.

GITEX 5.0 — What Changed and Why It Matters

GITEX 2025 at DWTC attracted 200,000+ visitors from 180 countries, 6,800+ exhibiting companies and 400+ government entities. The 2026 edition at Expo City is projected to exceed 250,000 attendees and 9,500 exhibitors — with Expand North Star’s startups and investors returning to a single location for the first time.

“GITEX’s relocation to Expo City Dubai and the introduction of TechCation represent the evolution of Dubai’s innovation story — one that connects business, culture, and lifestyle.” — Dubai Government Media Office

The GITEX 2026 Programme — 8 Co-located Events

GITEX 2026 is an integrated ecosystem of eight simultaneous events:

• GITEX Scale Summit (7 December) — strategic dialogue for global leaders on AI economies and policy frameworks
• GITEX Global Main Exhibition (8–11 December) — AI, quantum computing, biosciences, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, mobility
• AI Everything — dedicated AI business and innovation platform
• Expand North Star — world’s largest startup and investor event, reuniting with GITEX at Expo City
• GITEX Impact — sustainability and responsible tech
• Future Urbanism — smart cities and urban technology
• Global DevSlam — developer ecosystem and open-source innovation
• TechCation (new 2026) — citywide technology-lifestyle experience across Dubai

What the Best GITEX Stands Do — Lessons from 2025

Large-format LED walls — minimum 3 metres high

At Expo City’s expanded halls, 3 metres is the minimum for aisle visibility. The most effective GITEX stands showed dynamic content changing every 15–20 seconds — live data, real-time product metrics and AI-generated visuals outperformed branded video in visitor dwell time.

Open layout — zero walls facing the aisle

Open stands with clear interior visibility from 15+ metres convert passing traffic. At a 200,000-person event, visitors make split-second decisions to stop or continue. A walled stand with a single entry point repels foot traffic before you can engage it.

One hero activation — the reason to stop

The highest-performing GITEX stands in 2025 had a single, clear, visually arresting activation: an interactive AI demo, a robotics display in motion, a VR experience with a queue forming. One strong reason to stop is more powerful than ten weak ones.

Government-focused meeting infrastructure

With 400+ government entities at GITEX, private meeting pods — not open tables — are essential for the conversations where the largest contracts originate. Sound privacy, seating for four to six, brand materials available for leave-behind.

The New Venue — What Exhibitors Need to Know About Expo City

• Location — Expo City Dubai is in Dubai South, near Al Maktoum International Airport. Factor longer commute times from central Dubai into visitor and staff logistics
• Scale — $2.7 billion expansion, 1.5× the size of DWTC. Larger halls, longer sight lines, more demanding visual competition
• Infrastructure — purpose-built for modern exhibitions, with superior power, connectivity and logistics access vs DWTC
• Authority requirements — Expo City Dubai has its own contractor accreditation and permit processes. AURA 919 is fully accredited at Expo City Dubai
• December positioning — international visitors are combining GITEX with leisure stays, increasing average visit duration and stand engagement time

AURA 919 at GITEX — 15+ Years, One Team

AURA 919 has delivered exhibition stands at GITEX Technology Week for over 15 years — for technology companies, government entities, telecoms brands including du and Vodafone, and fast-growing startups making their first major exhibition appearance.

Our full in-house capability — design, fabrication, logistics, Expo City installation, live-event management and dismantling — means one team accountable from first sketch to final bolt. No subcontractors. No surprises on build day.

We are fully accredited at Expo City Dubai, DWTC, ADNEC Abu Dhabi, RICEC Riyadh and Doha Exhibition Centre — making GITEX the anchor of a full GCC exhibition strategy.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions — GITEX Global 2026 exhibition stands

Saudi Arabia welcomed 122 million visitors in 2025 — its largest tourism year on record, and a clear signal that Vision 2030’s transformation is accelerating faster than planned. The Kingdom has already exceeded its original 100 million visitor target six years ahead of schedule, and the new goal of 150 million annual visitors by 2030 is driving one of the most significant infrastructure buildouts in the world.

For brands operating in technology, food and beverage, construction, travel, healthcare or any sector connected to Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects, the exhibition calendar in Riyadh has become one of the most valuable marketing channels in the GCC. And the competition for premium exhibition stand space — and quality stand builders who know how to operate in the Kingdom — has never been higher.

AURA 919 has a permanent, dedicated team based in Riyadh. This is not a subcontractor arrangement or a project-by-project partnership. It is our own people, on the ground, delivering exhibition stands at Saudi Arabia’s biggest events year-round.

Saudi Arabia’s Exhibition Calendar 2026 — The Full Picture

The Kingdom’s 2026 exhibition calendar spans every major sector of Vision 2030’s economic diversification agenda:

“Saudi Arabia’s exhibition infrastructure grew 320% in exhibition space since 2018. There has never been a better time for brands to establish a physical presence in Riyadh.”

LEAP 2026 — The World’s Most Attended Tech Event

LEAP is now in its 5th edition, running 13–16 April 2026 at RICEC Malham, Riyadh. It is the world’s most attended technology event outside the United States, with 215,000+ visitors, 1,800+ exhibitors, 1,000+ speakers and 600+ startups. LEAP runs alongside DeepFest — the region’s most influential AI event — giving exhibitors simultaneous access to both audiences.

Sectors at LEAP 2026: Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, HealthTech, EdTech, EnergyTech, Smart Cities, Digital Entertainment, Transport, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Sustainability, and Giga and Mega Projects.

The audience at LEAP — senior executives, government ministers, global investors, AI researchers and sovereign wealth fund decision-makers — evaluates your brand with investment-level scrutiny. Your stand must deliver credibility on sight.

Big 5 Construct Saudi — Gateway to a $1.7 Trillion Market

Big 5 Construct Saudi is the Kingdom’s largest construction exhibition — running twice in 2026: 18–21 January and 11–14 May at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre (RFECC), located at ROSHN Front near King Khalid International Airport.

Saudi Arabia’s construction market is valued at $1.7 trillion — fuelled by giga-projects including NEOM, the Red Sea Project, Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate. Big 5 Construct Saudi is where brands supplying materials, technology, machinery and services to these projects come to meet decision-makers and close deals.

The 2026 edition covers: building envelopes and construction, smart building technologies, MEP systems, off-site and modular construction, interior finishing, solar integration and AI-driven site management platforms.

Saudi Travel Market — Tourism Exhibition for Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia welcomed 122 million visitors in 2025 and is targeting 150 million by 2030. The Saudi Travel Market (STM) — running 11–13 May 2026 — is the Kingdom’s premier travel and tourism B2B trade show, connecting destination brands, hotel groups, tour operators, airline representatives and tourism technology companies with Gulf buyers.

Saudi Food Expo — The $54 Billion Food Industry Platform

The Saudi Food Expo runs 21–24 June 2026 at Riyadh Front Expo — bringing together 450+ exhibitors from 60 countries to access Saudi Arabia’s $54 billion food and beverage industry. With 15,000+ expected visitors including buyers, wholesalers, distributors and hospitality decision-makers, it is the most concentrated food B2B event in the Kingdom. Sectors: Beverages, Coffee, Dairy, Desserts, Grains and Cereals, Hospitality and Kitchen Equipment.

Why Saudi Arabia Requires a Different Approach to Stand Design

Riyadh is not Dubai. The exhibition culture, regulatory environment, venue authority requirements and audience expectations are distinct. A stand that performs at DWTC needs careful adaptation for RICEC, RFECC and Jeddah’s venues.

• Authority approvals — Saudi venues require contractor registration and permit submission. AURA 919 is fully registered at all major Saudi venues
• Cultural design considerations — materials, imagery, hospitality layout and meeting area design must align with Saudi cultural standards
• Logistics lead times — our Riyadh team manages local fabrication and procurement, reducing shipping delays and costs
• Prayer time scheduling — build-up and event timings are structured around prayer times; experienced local coordination is essential

AURA 919 in Saudi Arabia — Our Credentials

AURA 919 is one of the very few Dubai-based exhibition companies with a permanent, dedicated team in Riyadh. We have delivered exhibition stands at LEAP, Big 5 Saudi, Global Health Exhibition and major RICEC and RFECC events for technology companies, government entities and consumer brands operating in the Kingdom.

We are fully accredited and registered at RICEC Malham, Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, and Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. Our Saudi team manages all permits, authority approvals, local fabrication and logistics — so your brand arrives on the floor ready to perform.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions — exhibition stands in Saudi Arabia 2026

The 28th edition of WETEX — the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition — runs 20–22 October 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Organised by DEWA under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, WETEX is the world’s largest specialised exhibition of its kind and the largest sustainability and clean energy platform in the MENA region.

The 27th edition set the benchmark: 3,100 exhibiting brands from 65 countries, over 50,000 visitors, 18 international pavilions, 68 sponsors, and 114 specialised seminars — all across 95,000 square metres of DWTC floor space. For the 28th edition, DEWA is pushing further into AI, green hydrogen, smart cities and decarbonisation.

If your brand is in renewable energy, water technology, AI, sustainability, green mobility or environmental solutions — WETEX is the most important three days of your year in the UAE. And your exhibition stand is your biggest competitive weapon on that floor.

What WETEX 2026 Covers — 9 Official Sectors

According to the official DEWA announcement for the 28th edition, WETEX 2026 spans nine key sectors:

In 2025, WETEX introduced a dedicated Green Mobility Hall — showcasing hydrogen technologies, low-emission fuels and AI applications advancing EV adoption. WETEX 2026 expands this with drones, smart grid innovation and AI-energy integration as headline features.

WETEX also runs alongside the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) — giving exhibitors simultaneous access to technology buyers at WETEX and government ministers and sustainability policy leaders at WGES. This dual-event platform is unique to WETEX in the UAE calendar.

Why the WETEX Audience Judges You by Your Stand

WETEX attracts a precise, senior audience: DEWA officials, government ministers, clean energy engineers, ESG directors, institutional investors and procurement heads from 65 countries. MoUs and government agreements are signed on the floor. Business-to-government deals are closed over three days.

This audience evaluates your brand’s credibility on sight. They attend 114 expert seminars. They know immediately whether your stand reflects your claims — or contradicts them.

“At WETEX, your stand IS your sustainability statement. We design it to say the right thing before you speak a single word.”

The three things every high-performing WETEX stand does well:

• Credibility at first glance — premium finish, real product integration, government certifications visible from the aisle
• Live technology demonstration — working equipment, real-time dashboards, AI configurators visitors can interact with
• Private meeting infrastructure — enclosed pods where government and investor conversations can happen

Sustainable Stand Design — What DWTC and DEWA Require

DWTC operates strict sustainability guidelines for all exhibitors. DEWA, as organiser, sets an even higher standard — and 50,000 visitors at a clean energy exhibition will immediately notice a stand built with single-use materials, halogen lighting and PVC graphics.

AURA 919 builds WETEX stands that align with DWTC regulations and DEWA’s audience expectations:

• FSC-certified timber frames and recycled aluminium structures
• Fabric graphic systems — 100% recyclable, zero PVC, reusable across shows
• LED-only lighting — 70% lower energy consumption vs traditional stand lighting
• Modular design — rebuilt at WETEX, Big 5, DEWA events, reducing long-term cost
• Multi-event storage programme — reducing costs by up to 40% from show two onwards
• Complete waste management — zero single-use plastics on stand

Technology That Wins Visitors at WETEX 2026

The highest-performing technology stands at WETEX 2025 used these approaches:

Live Energy Data Dashboards

Large LED walls showing real-time output from your products or installations — not simulations, actual live data. The single most effective credibility signal for any energy technology brand at WETEX.

AI Product Configurators

Touchscreen tools where visitors input parameters and see customised solutions and ROI projections in real time. Visitors who interact stay 4× longer than those who only look.

Green Hydrogen and EV Demonstrations

Given WETEX 2026’s expanded Green Mobility Hall, brands in hydrogen, EV charging and low-emission transport should build live demonstrations into their stand architecture — show the technology working, not just displayed.

Smart Lead Capture

WETEX generates high volumes of government and institutional visitors. Badge scanning, digital business cards and instant CRM integration ensure every conversation is tracked and followed up efficiently.

AURA 919 — Our WETEX Credentials

AURA 919 has designed and delivered exhibition stands at WETEX and DEWA events across multiple editions. Our clients include the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, RTA, Dubai Economy and Tourism — organisations where failure on the day is not an option.

Our full in-house capability — design, fabrication, logistics, installation, live management and dismantling — means one team accountable from first sketch to final bolt. No subcontractors. No surprises on build day at DWTC.

We are fully accredited at DWTC, ADNEC Abu Dhabi, Expo City Dubai, RICEC Riyadh and Doha Exhibition Centre — so your WETEX stand can be the starting point for your entire GCC exhibition calendar.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions — WETEX 2026

When was the last time an exhibition stand didn’t just catch your eye — but stopped you completely in your tracks? If you’re still thinking, that’s exactly the point.

As Dubai enters 2026, the GCC’s exhibition landscape is going through its most significant transformation yet. GITEX Global moves to Expo City Dubai (7–11 December 2026). Arab Health evolves into World Health Expo (WHX Dubai), now hosted at Dubai Exhibition Centre. Gulfood continues to grow with 8,500+ exhibitors. The venues are bigger, the audiences more demanding, and the competition fiercer than ever.

For brands planning to exhibit — the question is no longer whether your stand looks good. It’s whether your stand does something.

Here are the five exhibition stand design trends in Dubai for 2026 that are redefining how brands connect with audiences across the GCC.

1. Immersive Technology — AR, VR and Mixed Reality

Virtual and Augmented Reality are no longer novelties at exhibitions — they are now expected. The brands that used AR/VR activations at GITEX 2025 reported visitor dwell times 4× longer than traditional stands. In 2026, the bar is higher.

The most compelling immersive exhibition stands in Dubai now feature:

• Mixed-reality simulations layered over physical sets
• Multi-user VR zones allowing groups to explore together
• Augmented holography — floating visuals that respond to movement and voice
• Full product configurators where visitors customise and visualise in real time

At GITEX 2026 and WHX Dubai, AURA 919 designs immersive tech stands that integrate seamlessly with your brand narrative — from concept and 3D render to full installation and live-event technical management.

“Memory is tied to experience. Immersive tech doesn’t just tell your story — it lets attendees live it.”

2. AI-Powered Personalisation — Real-Time, Real Smart

Artificial Intelligence is now front and centre on exhibition floors. AI-powered exhibition stands in the UAE are using real-time visitor data to personalise every interaction — from the content displayed on LED walls to the conversation a digital assistant opens with each visitor.

In practice this means:

• Facial recognition kiosks that identify returning visitors and surface relevant content
• AI chatbots trained on your product portfolio that qualify leads live
• Dynamic content walls that shift messaging based on visitor demographics
• Real-time sentiment analysis — adapting the experience as the crowd changes

For brands exhibiting at GITEX Global 2026 at Expo City Dubai, AI personalisation isn’t a luxury — it’s how you compete with 6,800+ other exhibitors for 200,000 visitors’ attention.

3. Sustainable Stand Design — Built Green, Built to Last

Sustainability is no longer optional for major exhibitions. DWTC and Expo City Dubai both have active sustainability mandates, and brands are responding. Sustainable exhibition stand design in Dubai in 2026 means:

• Modular, reconfigurable stand structures — reused across multiple shows
• FSC-certified timber and recycled aluminium fabrication
• LED lighting only — zero halogen, significantly lower energy consumption
• Sustainable graphics — fabric-printed displays replacing foam and PVC
• Zero single-use plastics on the stand

AURA 919’s multi-event stand storage programme allows clients to reuse the same stand across GITEX, WHX Dubai, Gulfood and Big 5 — reducing cost by up to 40% from the second show onwards.

4. LED Walls and High-Impact Digital Displays

The LED wall exhibition stand has become the defining visual of Dubai’s exhibition halls. At GITEX 2025 and Gulfood 2026, fine-pitch LED installations dominated the floor — and the trend is accelerating.

What’s driving it: LED content can be changed in seconds, costs less per impression than printed graphics, and creates the cinematic visual scale that today’s hyper-stimulated visitors respond to.

AURA 919 designs, sources, installs and operates LED walls for exhibition stands across DWTC, ADNEC, Expo City Dubai, RICEC Riyadh and Doha Exhibition Centre. Our in-house technical team manages content and live operation throughout the show.

5. Social-First Stand Design — Built for the Camera

Every visitor at a major Dubai exhibition is a content creator. The most successful exhibition stands in the GCC in 2026 are designed with social media as a primary output — not an afterthought.

This means:

• Designated social moment zones — photogenic, branded, shareable
• Custom hashtag integrations displayed throughout the stand
• Live social walls showing visitor content in real time
• Lighting designed for portrait and video, not just ambience
• Brand activations that visitors actively want to photograph and share

The result: your stand reaches far beyond the exhibition hall. One well-designed social moment at GITEX can generate millions of organic impressions within 24 hours.

Ready to Build Your 2026 Stand?

AURA 919 has delivered 200+ custom exhibition stands across GITEX, WHX Dubai (Arab Health), Gulfood, Cityscape, Big 5 and LEAP Riyadh over 15+ years. Our in-house team handles everything — concept, 3D design, fabrication, logistics, installation and live support.

Whether you’re planning a 9 sqm shell scheme upgrade or a 400 sqm island pavilion at GITEX 2026, we deliver stands that stop people in their tracks.