- Dates
- December 7, 2026 – December 11, 2026
- Where
- Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, Dubai, AE
- Official site
- gitex.com
GITEX GLOBAL is one of the largest technology exhibitions in the world. In 2026 it runs from December 7 to 11 in Dubai: the GITEX Summit on December 7, followed by the four-day GITEX GLOBAL Expo from December 8 to 11.
According to the venue, more than 200,000 attendees from over 180 countries, around 6,800 exhibiting companies, and more than 400 government entities are expected. At that scale, a plan matters.
What's different in 2026
The expo is at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai, not the Dubai World Trade Centre where GITEX was held in past years. If you've been before, don't rely on your old routine for travel and hotels. Check the route to Expo City before you book, and leave extra travel time on the first day.
How to work the halls
- Map your targets first. With thousands of exhibitors across the North and South halls, wandering is a good way to spend a whole day seeing 5% of the show. Shortlist the stands you need and group them by hall.
- Book meetings before you arrive. Exhibitors' calendars fill up. A short message a few weeks out ("I'll be at GITEX on the 9th, could we meet at your stand?") works far better than showing up unannounced.
- Go to the government and country pavilions. GITEX draws a large number of government and national delegations. If your work touches the public sector, this is a rare chance to meet many of them in one place.
- Use the quieter hours. The first morning and the last afternoon are usually calmer, which is good for longer conversations.
Business cards at GITEX
Business cards are still very much part of doing business in the Gulf. At GITEX you'll likely come home with a thick stack from exhibitors, delegations, and partners, many with English on one side and Arabic on the other.
- Bring plenty, and keep them somewhere you can reach quickly.
- Give and receive cards with your right hand, and look at a card before putting it away. It's a small courtesy that people in the region notice.
- Write a quick note on the back (or in your phone) right after each conversation.
After GITEX: follow up before the holidays
GITEX ends in mid-December, just before many people slow down for the end of the year. If you don't follow up within a few days, your message may not get read until January.
- Scan your cards each evening so the stack never gets out of hand.
- Tag contacts by day or hall ("GITEX 2026 - Day 2") so you remember the context.
- Send follow-ups before you fly home, while you're still top of mind. Our follow-up message templates include a WhatsApp version.
uKeep turns each card into a complete contact in seconds, finds the person's LinkedIn, and lets you follow up by WhatsApp, email, or phone straight from the card. WhatsApp is especially useful here, since it's the channel many people in the region use for business.
Quick facts
- Dates: December 7-11, 2026 (Summit on December 7, Expo December 8-11)
- Expo venue: Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, UAE
- Official site: gitex.com
Dates, venue, and attendance figures checked against GITEX's official site and the Dubai Exhibition Centre's listing as of September 2026. Confirm details there before you travel.