GITEX 2026, arriving from far away.
If you are flying to Dubai from North America, Britain or the rest of Europe, the hardest part of GITEX Global is not the show. It is the first 24 hours: jet lag, an airport transfer, a hotel in the right part of town and two different venues in the same week. This is how to plan it.
Two venues, so read the dates twice
GITEX Global 2026 has two parts. The GITEX Summit is one day, Monday 7 December 2026, at Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road. The Expo and conferences run for four days, Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 December, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. The Expo moved there from DWTC, and some older listings still show the old arrangement, so use the organiser’s own dates at gitex.com.
The organiser lists opening hours as Summit 9:30 to 5:00, Expo 10:00 to 5:00 and Conference 11:00 to 4:00. It does not say which pass opens which day, so read the details on its own site. We do not sell tickets or passes, and we are not part of the event.
Planning this trip? Tell us the date and group size for a fixed price.
Get a quoteThe time difference
The organiser gives Dubai’s time zone as GMT +4, and in December most of the world is on standard time, so the gap is easy to work out. Dubai is 4 hours ahead of London, 3 hours ahead of most of mainland Europe, 9 hours ahead of New York and 12 hours ahead of California.
In practice, a delegate from the US East Coast who lands in the morning will feel it is the middle of the night. We have no data on which long-haul flights land at which hour, so check your own flight and plan the day around it. If the Summit on 7 December is your first day, think hard about landing on the Saturday or Sunday before, not the Monday morning.
Which airport
Dubai International (DXB) is the main airport for most international visitors. Al Maktoum International (DWC) is close to the Expo venue, but the venue says it serves a limited number of commercial flights. Check which one your airline uses before you book a pick-up. Our Al Maktoum airport transfer page covers DWC and the Dubai airport transfer page covers DXB.
The organiser’s own figures from DXB are approximately 15 minutes by taxi and 20 by Metro to DWTC, and approximately 30 minutes by taxi and 45 by Metro to Expo City. For planning we use approximately 15 to 30 minutes to DWTC and approximately 35 to 50 minutes to Expo City, outside peak times, and we add time for show days.
Our driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board and tracks your flight. If you want help with immigration, Dubai Airports lists a separate marhaba meet and greet service at Terminals 1 and 3. We do not provide that.
Visa: check the official pages
Entry rules depend on your passport. Check the UAE government’s page, “Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE” on u.ae, and the visa section of the organiser’s Plan your visit page before you book flights. We do not list countries, stay lengths or fees, because those change and are not ours to state.
Where to stay
The venue is half the question. For the Summit day, hotels in Downtown Dubai and Business Bay are close to DWTC. For the Expo days, the venue lists Rove Expo City, Cheval Maison Expo City Dubai and Expo Village Serviced Apartments as within walking distance of the Dubai Exhibition Centre. For the Summit, DWTC describes five hotels and serviced apartments close to its venue, and we have not confirmed the names.
The organiser also runs a hotel programme through Atelier by Informa, with partner properties and a daily shuttle. We could not read its hotel list, so check it on gitex.com.
These are our own approximate road times for the districts most groups choose. They come from our route calculation without traffic, so add time on show days.
| Area | To DWTC (Mon 7 Dec) | To Expo City (8 to 11 Dec) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | 10 to 20 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Business Bay | 10 to 20 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Dubai Marina and JBR | 25 to 35 minutes | 20 to 35 minutes |
| Palm Jumeirah | 30 to 40 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Deira | 15 to 25 minutes | 35 to 50 minutes |
If you will split time between both venues, a hotel on the Red Line is the flexible choice. Marina and JBR are the shortest runs to the Expo days.
How the Metro, the shuttles and a driver fit together
The organiser says the Dubai Metro Red Line connects both venues: World Trade Centre station for the Summit, Expo 2020 station for the Expo, with a walk of approximately 5 to 10 minutes from that station. You need a Nol card. The organiser also lists direct DWTC to Dubai Exhibition Centre shuttles, hotel and exhibitor shuttles, and Careem and Uber at both venues. It warns that shuttle routes may change, so read its current notice.
Check the RTA timetable for the last train. A late finish can run past it. We could not find any extended Metro hours for GITEX week.
So where does a driver fit? In three places. The first is the airport, when you land tired after a long flight and want one person with your name on a board. The second is a group, such as a delegation or a company team, that wants to arrive together on a fixed schedule. The third is the evening, when you are in business clothes and not interested in finding a station. Use the train on the quiet days and book us for the heavy ones. Our airport chauffeur and corporate chauffeur pages explain the booking.
Weather and what to pack for the day
The organiser quotes an average temperature of around 21 to 22 degrees Celsius for the week, so December is the cool season, and English is widely spoken. Even so, the walk from the station or a drop-off point to a hall can be long in formal shoes.
Booking from abroad
Send us the flight numbers, the hotel name or area, the group size and a mobile number through the booking page. We reply with a fixed written quote. For a team of ten or more, the big group arrival guide explains how we handle bags and a split arrival.
Keep reading
- GITEX Global 2026 transport guide: Which GITEX Global 2026 venue on which day, how the Metro and the organiser’s shuttles work, and where a private pre-booked vehicle fits.
- GITEX late evening return and FAQ: Getting back from the GITEX Global 2026 venues after the show closes: Metro, taxis, the organiser shuttles, and a pre-booked driver for dinner and the hotel.
- DXB airport to Expo City for GITEX: Landing at Dubai International for GITEX Global 2026 and heading to Expo City: Metro, taxi or a pre-booked vehicle, hotel first or venue first, bags and the return.
- GITEX delegation and exhibitor transport: Moving a delegation, an exhibitor crew or a buyer group around GITEX Global 2026: what the organiser runs, then how a private van or coach fits a team with kit.
- Downtown and Business Bay hotels to GITEX: Staying in Downtown Dubai or Business Bay for GITEX Global 2026: a short hop to DWTC on 7 December, a longer run to Expo City from 8 to 11 December, and when a vehicle helps.
- GITEX two venues in five days: GITEX Global 2026 starts at Dubai World Trade Centre on 7 December and moves to Expo City on 8 December. How the Metro, the organiser shuttle and a private vehicle handle the move.
Frequently asked.
Quick answers for this trip.
What is the time difference between Dubai and the US, UK and Europe?
The organiser lists Dubai as GMT +4. In December that is 4 hours ahead of London, 3 hours ahead of most of mainland Europe, 9 hours ahead of New York and 12 hours ahead of California.
Which venue do I go to on which day?
The one-day GITEX Summit on Monday 7 December is at Dubai World Trade Centre. The Expo from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 December is at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport. Check the UAE government’s visa page on u.ae and the visa section of the organiser’s Plan your visit page. We do not state who needs one.
Can your driver meet me at the airport?
Yes. A driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board and tracks your flight. Fast-track immigration is a separate airport service, and we do not provide it.
Is the Metro enough to get around?
For one person near a Red Line station, often yes. It links both venues. A group with luggage or a tight schedule may prefer a private vehicle. Check the RTA timetable for the last train.
Do you run the organiser’s shuttles?
No. The organiser runs its own shuttles and we are not its transport provider. Ours is a private, pre-booked service for groups and delegates who want their own timing.
Which hotel area is best for GITEX?
It depends on the days you attend. Downtown and Business Bay are close to the Summit. Marina, JBR and the hotels at Expo City suit the Expo days better.
Do you sell GITEX tickets?
No. We do not sell tickets, passes or exhibitor space. Use the organiser’s own site, gitex.com. We provide a vehicle, a driver and fuel on a fixed written quote.
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