UAE trade shows and exhibitions, 2026 and 2027: the calendar for marketing teams
The big UAE shows between now and 2027, with dates, venues and sectors, and what each one asks of your content team. Dates checked on 6 October 2026.
The UAE's biggest trade shows between November 2026 and May 2027 are Gulfood Manufacturing (3 to 5 November), GITEX Global (8 to 11 December), Intersec and WHX Dubai in January, Gulfood (15 to 19 March) and Arabian Travel Market (3 to 6 May). Each one puts thousands of brands in the same hall for a few days, and each one rewards the companies that arrive with film and photographs ready to use.
The calendar
These are the shows we would plan content around, in date order. Dates and venues come from public listings checked on 6 October 2026.
| Dates | Event | Venue | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 to 29 October 2026 | Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai | Dubai Exhibition Centre | Jewellery |
| 2 to 5 November 2026 | ADIPEC | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi | Energy |
| 3 to 5 November 2026 | Gulfood Manufacturing | Dubai World Trade Centre | Food production and packaging |
| 3 to 8 November 2026 | Dubai Design Week | Dubai Design District | Design |
| 4 to 15 November 2026 | Sharjah International Book Fair | Expo Centre Sharjah | Publishing and culture |
| 23 to 26 November 2026 | The Big 5 | Dubai World Trade Centre | Construction |
| 8 to 11 December 2026 | GITEX Global (summit on 7 December) | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City | Technology |
| 12 to 14 January 2027 | Intersec | Dubai World Trade Centre | Security and safety |
| 19 to 21 January 2027 | AEEDC Dubai | Dubai | Dentistry |
| 25 to 28 January 2027 | WHX Dubai (formerly Arab Health) | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City | Healthcare |
| 25 to 29 January 2027 | IDEX and NAVDEX | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi | Defence |
| 24 to 28 February 2027 | Dubai International Boat Show | Dubai Harbour | Marine and luxury |
| 15 to 19 March 2027 | Gulfood | Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai | Food and beverage |
| 3 to 6 May 2027 | Arabian Travel Market | Dubai | Travel and tourism |
| 15 to 19 November 2027 | Dubai Airshow | Dubai World Central | Aviation |
Two shows have just finished or are running: The Hotel Show and Gulf Print & Pack ran on 28 to 30 September 2026, and Beautyworld Middle East runs on 6 to 8 October 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
How much to trust a date
Treat every date here as provisional until the organiser confirms it. Gulf Print & Pack was first set for 31 March to 2 April 2026 and was later moved to 28 to 30 September 2026. The Hotel Show moved to the same dates. Intersec 2027 is listed by its organiser for 12 to 14 January, while another listing gives 11 to 13 January, so check before you book travel or a crew.
What each kind of show asks of your content team
- 01Food and beverage (Gulfood, Gulfood Manufacturing).Product and packaging photography, a stand film and short vertical edits. Buyers see a lot of products, so clean pack shots matter.
- 02Technology (GITEX Global).Launch and demo film, interviews and a fast social cut.
- 03Healthcare, security and construction (WHX Dubai, Intersec, The Big 5).Film that shows how products work, plus a photo set of the stand and team.
- 04Design, culture and luxury (Dubai Design Week, Sharjah International Book Fair, Dubai International Boat Show).Atmosphere and detail photography, where the look of the content is part of the brand.
- 05Travel (Arabian Travel Market).Destination and property film, interviews with partners and a social edit for each market.
Exhibiting at a UAE show?
Tell us the event and the dates. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
When to start
This is our rule of thumb for a stand, working back from the first day of the show.
- 1Eight weeks out.Decide what you will publish afterwards, and book the crew.
- 2Six weeks out.Agree the shot list: stand, product, team, meetings and interviews.
- 3Four weeks out.Ask the organiser for the filming rules and passes. Shoot product and packaging in a studio now, not on the show floor.
- 4Show days.Film and photograph the stand, people and interviews.
- 5After the show.Photography is normally delivered in 5 to 10 working days, so plan your follow-up emails around that.
Who commissions coverage
Organisers generally arrange their own official coverage. The work open to outside crews is mostly commissioned by exhibitors, national pavilions and sponsors, who each need material about their own stand rather than the whole show.
Where to go next
For the Gulfood-specific plan, read Gulfood 2027: a content plan for exhibitors. For what we offer, see event video and photography. If you are choosing a supplier, ten questions to ask before you hire covers access, deliverables and price. To brief us, send the event name and dates.
Exhibiting or hosting an event in the UAE?
Send us the event, the dates and what you want to publish afterwards. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
Trade show questions: dates, venues and coverage.
What are the biggest trade shows in the UAE?
Gulfood is the largest, with about 8,500 exhibitors listed for 2027. GITEX Global, Arab Health (now WHX Dubai), The Big 5, Intersec, ADIPEC, Arabian Travel Market and the Dubai Airshow are the other major annual or biennial shows.
Which UAE trade shows are on in November and December 2026?
ADIPEC (2 to 5 November, Abu Dhabi), Gulfood Manufacturing (3 to 5 November), Dubai Design Week (3 to 8 November), Sharjah International Book Fair (4 to 15 November), The Big 5 (23 to 26 November) and GITEX Global (8 to 11 December, with a summit on 7 December).
When is Gulfood 2027?
Gulfood 2027 runs from 15 to 19 March 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre and Expo City Dubai.
Can you film and photograph on the floor of a UAE exhibition?
Filming rules are set by the organiser and the venue, so ask for them early. Dubai also requires a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit for essentially any professional production. We confirm access with the organiser before we shoot.
