GITEX Global 2026: New Dates, Expo City Venue and Leads
By Ilyas Kerbal,
GITEX Global is the Middle East’s largest technology exhibition and one of the biggest tech shows anywhere: more than 200,000 attendees and over 6,500 exhibitors from 180 countries. Gulf governments and state entities both exhibit and buy, which makes it a key week for enterprise and public-sector tech sales in the GCC. For 2026 there’s a big change: the show is reported to move to Expo City Dubai with new December dates.
Here’s what that means for your plans, and how to make sure the GITEX attendee list is in your CRM before you land.
GITEX Global key facts
| Industry | Tech / AI / cybersecurity |
| City | Dubai, UAE |
| Venue | Dubai World Trade Centre (to 2025); Expo City Dubai (reported from 2026) |
| Dates | Historically mid-October; 2026 edition reported for 7–11 Dec at Expo City Dubai |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | Venue change in 2026 (DWTC → Expo City), same city |
| Typical scale | ~200,000 attendees · ~6,500 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | ≈ AED 580 (≈ US$160) visitor pass (2025) |
| App / platform | Official GITEX app + online registration |
| Official website | gitex.com |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official GITEX Global website before you book travel.
What is GITEX Global?
GITEX covers:
- Artificial intelligence and data
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud, data centres and telecoms/5G
- Fintech and digital banking
- Smart cities, govtech and mobility
- Startups and venture capital, through Expand North Star
- Consumer and enterprise devices
Summits on AI, quantum and cyber run alongside, and the GITEX brand (organised by KAOUN International and DWTC) now has editions in Europe, Asia and Africa too.
GITEX was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre for decades before its reported move to Expo City Dubai. Photo: Hawkeye7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
2026: new venue, new dates
| Until 2025 | 2026 (reported) | |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road | Expo City Dubai, Dubai South |
| Timing | Mid-October | 7–11 December |
| City | Dubai | Dubai |
The city hasn’t changed, but almost everything else about logistics has: venue, dates, hotel areas and travel times. Confirm details on gitex.com before booking.
Who attends GITEX
| Who | What they want | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| CIOs, CTOs and CISOs from GCC enterprises | Security, cloud, AI and data solutions | Enterprise software and security vendors |
| Government and smart-city officials | Digital transformation projects | Integrators, govtech vendors |
| Telecom operators and system integrators | Partners and technology | Network and infrastructure vendors |
| Startup founders and investors | Funding, customers | VCs, accelerators, corporates |
| Channel partners, resellers and distributors | New vendors to represent | Vendors entering the Gulf |
| International tech vendors and media | Visibility and deals | PR, events and marketing agencies |
With 6,500+ exhibitors, the exhibitor list alone is a large prospecting list for any company selling to tech vendors: distributors, marketing agencies, recruiters and service providers.
Going to GITEX Global with a sales target? Get the list first. I compile who is exhibiting and attending, add titles, company size and LinkedIn links, and send it as a file your SDRs can work from on day one. Get the GITEX Global list
Ticket prices
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Visitor pass (2025) | About AED 580 (≈ US$160) |
| Delegate / summit passes | From about AED 250 per summit per day |
| Certified training passes | From about AED 4,000 |
| Student passes | Discounted |
Prices rise closer to the event, so check gitex.com for current rates.
The GITEX app
GITEX publishes an official app each year for the agenda, exhibitor search and meeting scheduling. It’s useful on the floor. But the floor is loud and crowded, and the best meetings at GITEX are booked weeks ahead. To do that you need the people behind the booths: titles, companies, LinkedIn profiles and contact routes, in a file you can sequence from.
Is GITEX worth it?
Pros
- The highest concentration of GCC tech buyers and government entities
- A massive exhibitor base to prospect
- Strong startup and investor ecosystem
- Visitors from 180 countries
- Many summits for targeted content
Cons
- Expensive passes and Dubai hotels
- Very crowded, with noise that makes floor meetings hard
- The 2026 venue and date change needs checking
- Some booths are showcase-only government pavilions
- Strong competition for attention
Prefer to arrive with a target list? I turn GITEX Global exhibitor directories and app profiles into a sorted, enriched list you can filter by country, industry and job title. Send me your brief
Preparing for GITEX at Expo City
- Re-check your hotel plan. Expo City Dubai is in Dubai South, far from the old DWTC area.
- Book meetings in November. December dates mean holiday season follows quickly, so the window for follow-up is short.
- Target government entities carefully. Their procurement runs on long cycles, but they buy at scale.
- Use Expand North Star if you sell to startups or investors.
- Find quiet meeting spaces in advance.
- Follow up before the year-end break, or your leads will wait until January.
FAQ
When is GITEX Global 2026?
It’s reported for 7 to 11 December 2026 at Expo City Dubai. Confirm on gitex.com.
Has GITEX moved from the Dubai World Trade Centre?
Reports indicate GITEX Global moves to Expo City Dubai from 2026, after decades at DWTC.
How much is a GITEX visitor pass?
About AED 580 (≈ US$160) in 2025, with prices rising closer to the event.
Can I get the GITEX exhibitor and attendee list?
The app lets you search and message, not export. I can deliver an enriched GITEX list ready for your CRM.
Get the GITEX Global attendee list before the show
Exhibiting or just walking the halls, the companies you want to meet at GITEX Global are already registered. I can find them, enrich them with titles, company data and LinkedIn profiles, and deliver a file your team can work from straight away.
Related event guides
- LEAP 2027 Riyadh: Tech Event Dates, Passes and Attendee Data
- WAIC Shanghai Guide: AI Conference, Tickets and Attendees
- China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) 2026: Shenzhen Visitor Guide
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: Dream Dubai GITEX 2023 by Grntn98, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Dubai World Trade Centre and skyline by Hawkeye7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
