Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Sheikh Zayed Road is the city’s best-known exhibition and conference venue. Each season it hosts trade shows that bring tens of thousands of visitors to the same few streets at the same times. Some of the biggest events now span two venues: DWTC and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. This guide explains what that means for your travel plans and how to organise transfers for exhibitors, speakers and visiting teams.
Key dates for the 2026-27 season
| Event | Dates | Venues | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The GITEX Summit | 7 December 2026 | Dubai World Trade Centre | GITEX |
| GITEX GLOBAL Expo | 8 to 11 December 2026 | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai | GITEX |
| World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai | 25 to 28 January 2027 | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre | WHX |
| WHX Tech | 26 to 28 January 2027 | Dubai World Trade Centre | WHX |
Always check the organiser’s website for the latest dates and halls. GITEX notes that its 2026 edition opens with the summit at DWTC and then moves to Expo City for the four-day expo, so a delegate could need transport to both venues in the same week. WHX lists exhibition hours of 11:00 to 18:00 on the first day and 10:00 to 18:00 on most other days, which gives a guide to when traffic around the halls will peak.
Two venues, two very different journeys
DWTC is in the city centre, close to DIFC, Downtown Dubai and many business hotels. The Dubai Exhibition Centre is at Expo City Dubai in the south of the city, much closer to Al Maktoum International (DWC) than to Dubai International (DXB). A hotel that is convenient for one venue can mean a long daily drive to the other. If your event uses Expo City, compare hotels near Dubai South and Dubai Marina with those near DWTC and Downtown Dubai before you book.
Both venues are on the Dubai Metro Red Line, which is useful for individual visitors travelling light. Exhibitors carrying samples, display material or luggage, and teams moving between meetings, usually prefer a car.
Planning transfers for an exhibiting team
- Arrivals: collect each team member’s flight and airport. Our DXB airport transfer page explains what we need.
- Build-up days: exhibitors often need early access before the show opens. Give the hall, gate and time.
- Show days: list morning drop-offs and evening pickups, and whether a car should stay on standby.
- Client meetings and dinners: add each venue and time.
- Breakdown and departures: list the final journeys with flight times.
For visiting executives and speakers, an hourly chauffeur keeps a car and driver available between sessions. For a full team schedule, our corporate transfers page explains how to send it in one message and receive one quote. Teams of seven or more often travel together in a minibus or MPV.
Tips for event weeks in Dubai
- Book early: hotels and cars near the venues fill up fast during major shows.
- Check which gate or hall your stand or session uses, and send it with your booking.
- Expect heavy traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road around DWTC at opening and closing times.
- Keep badges and passes with you, not in the car, in case you are dropped at a different entrance.
- For evening events, agree a pickup point in advance; many guests leave at the same time.
Build-up and breakdown days
Exhibitors often underestimate the transport needed outside public show days. Build-up days can start early, with crews arriving before the halls open to visitors, and breakdown can run late into the evening after the last day. Material and samples may need to travel with the team. Tell us about bulky items in advance, because they affect the vehicle choice; a van-style vehicle or minibus may be needed rather than a sedan.
If your stand builder or logistics agent is handling freight, the car only needs to carry people and hand luggage. If you are carrying display items yourself, give dimensions and weights when you enquire, so we can confirm whether they will fit.
Speakers, VIPs and hosted guests
Speakers and VIP guests usually have fixed times: a session slot, a media interview, a dinner. For these, a dedicated car is often worth it. The driver waits at the agreed point and is ready as soon as the guest leaves the hall. If you are organising travel for others, include the guest’s name as it should appear on a meeting sign, their flight, and a contact number for the day. Do not send passport copies or payment card details by email.
Choosing hotels for event weeks
For events at DWTC, hotels on Sheikh Zayed Road, in DIFC and in Downtown Dubai keep journeys short. For events at Expo City, hotels in Dubai South or around Dubai Marina are closer. When an event uses both venues, as GITEX does in 2026, consider where your team spends most of its time and choose the hotel for that venue. Our hotel transfers across Dubai page covers the main districts.
Checklist for an event-week enquiry
- Event name, venue(s) and hall
- Dates for build-up, show days and breakdown
- Team size and who travels together
- Hotel address
- Daily timings, plus evening events
- Bulky items, samples or display materials
- Arrival and departure flights
Sending these details at the start means fewer follow-up questions and a faster, more accurate quote. If plans are still changing, mark the uncertain parts and we will quote what is known.
Arriving for an event: from the airport to the venue
Some visitors fly in on the morning of their event and go straight from the airport to the halls. This can work, but it leaves little margin. Arrival formalities, baggage reclaim and morning traffic on the main roads can all take longer than expected. If you have a fixed session or stand duty, consider arriving the day before. If you must go straight to the venue, tell us the hall and gate, and whether you need to drop luggage at the hotel first. Our arrival guide explains what happens between landing and the exit, and the meet and greet service can save time in the terminal.
Related guide: GITEX 2026: Summit at DWTC, expo at Expo City.
Request a schedule quote
Use our quote request form, or email info@belgraviatransfers.com, with the event name, venue or venues, dates, hotel, team size and daily timings. We reply with availability, the suggested vehicles and a quote. The booking is confirmed only once you accept. For a broader view of our services, see our Dubai chauffeur service and Dubai airport transfer pages.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dubai World Trade Centre?
On Sheikh Zayed Road in central Dubai, close to DIFC and Downtown Dubai.
Is GITEX 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre?
The GITEX Summit is at DWTC on 7 December 2026, and the GITEX GLOBAL Expo runs 8 to 11 December 2026 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
When is WHX Dubai 2027?
World Health Expo Dubai runs 25 to 28 January 2027 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai and Dubai World Trade Centre.
Can you move our team between DWTC and Expo City?
Yes. Send the timings for each venue and the team size, and we quote the schedule.
Do you provide a car on standby during the show?
An hourly chauffeur booking keeps a car and driver available. Ask for it in your enquiry.
Is Dubai World Trade Centre on the Metro?
Yes. Both DWTC and the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City are on the Red Line.
Facts on this page were checked against the sources linked above on 17 October 2026. Dates, prices and opening hours can change, so confirm them with the official source before you travel.
