Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has announced that two of the world’s largest trade shows will move to the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai in 2026.
The relocation will see GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech and AI show, and Gulfood, the world’s biggest F&B sourcing event, expand into new territory.
Gulfood will operate across both the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) in the city’s central business district and DEC simultaneously, reflecting its growing scale and international demand.
Dubai Exhibition Centre events
The move was formalised in an agreement signed between Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events and Exhibitions Management at DWTC, and Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President of Venue Services Management at DWTC.
According to DWTC, the relocation reaffirms Dubai Exhibition Centre’s rise as a new urban hub purpose-built to host large-scale global events that shape industries, economies, and ideas.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events and Exhibitions Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “2026 will see the relocation of not one but two of the world’s largest events from the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre to their new home at Dubai Exhibition Centre.
“GITEX GLOBAL and Gulfood are pivotal within the tech and food segments, and contribute to the success of Dubai and the UAE’s economy.
“In Dubai’s new urban centre, the events have space to grow, not only in the traditional sense through hall space, but across Dubai’s expanding tourism, lifestyle and cultural districts.”
Venue change
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President of Venue Services Management at Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “The relocation of GITEX GLOBAL to Dubai Exhibition Centre, together with Gulfood’s citywide expansion across both DEC and DICEC signals a new era for our industry and for Dubai’s event economy.
“With the expanded Dubai Exhibition Centre, we are unlocking a future-ready platform built to accelerate global trade, innovation, and sector growth. DEC’s scale, infrastructure and connectivity allow our flagship events to evolve in step with Dubai’s D33 ambitions, while continuing to deliver impact across technology, food, investment and tourism.
“This strategic move ensures we remain the global benchmark for world-class events, anchored in a city designed for the future of business.”
The Dubai Exhibition Centre is undergoing a $2.7bn (AED 9.9bn) expansion that will make it the region’s largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions venue, strategically located near the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport—set to be the world’s largest—and fully integrated within Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Strategic realignment
The move positions DEC as the new gravitational centre of Dubai’s global mega-events ecosystem, providing the infrastructure and connectivity to support the next phase of the emirate’s growth as a business and innovation hub.
Beyond a simple venue relocation, DWTC described the shift as a strategic step aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) — the city’s plan to double the size of its economy by 2033 and position Dubai among the world’s top three urban economies.
The decision supports Dubai’s ambition to strengthen its reputation as a global destination for trade, technology, and investment, while creating an open platform for digital nomads, scale-ups, and multinational headquarters.
Follow us on
