Software exporters
Companies meeting Gulf clients and partners, often on a national pavilion or their own stand.
Trade fair guide · Dubai
GITEX Global 2026: a guide for Pakistani technology companies
GITEX Global is the technology show many Pakistani software, telecom and fintech companies plan their year around. In 2026 it runs in December, across two venues in Dubai.
Key facts
GITEX Global at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7–11 December 2026 |
| Opening day | 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Sheikh Maktoum Hall: the leaders’ summit day |
| Exhibition | 8–11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai |
| Visa | Pakistani visitors need a UAE visit visa approved before travel; exhibitors can ask the organiser about the events visit visa. |
| City | Dubai, UAE. Saturday and Sunday are the weekend, so the show runs Monday to Friday. |
Check before travel: visa rules, fees, processing times and event dates change without notice. This page was checked on 11 November 2026 against the GITEX Global official website (gitex.com). Confirm on the official source, or ask us to check for your trip, before you book anything non-refundable.
Who goes
Who from Pakistan attends GITEX Global
Fintech and telecom
Teams scouting partners, regulators and investors.
Startups
Founders at the startup and investor programmes.
Two venues
DWTC and Expo City are far apart
The summit day at DWTC and the exhibition days at Dubai Exhibition Centre are in different parts of Dubai. Expo City is in the south, near Al Maktoum Airport, about 35–45 minutes from Downtown by road. The metro Red Line reaches Expo City but takes time. For a team on the stand every day, a hotel in the south of the city, near Expo City or Dubai Marina, saves hours.
Hotels
Show week in December
December is already high season in Dubai, and GITEX adds tens of thousands of visitors. Book rooms as soon as you commit. For a stand team, block rooms with flexible names so you can swap travellers without losing the booking.
Visa
UAE visas for a delegation
Every Pakistani traveller needs a UAE visit visa before departure. Group files go faster when names, passports and photos are checked before submission. Anyone staying on to deliver work for a client needs a work permit, not a visit visa.
Timeline
A planning timeline for GITEX Global
3–4 months out
Decide to exhibit or visit; register and block hotels.
8 weeks out
Book flights; collect passports and photos for visas.
3–4 weeks out
Apply for visit visas or the events visa.
1 week out
Transport between venues and the hotel set.
After
Meetings that spill over, and a single invoice for the delegation.
FAQ
GITEX Global questions
When is GITEX Global 2026?
7–11 December 2026: the opening day at Dubai World Trade Centre on 7 December and the exhibition at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City, from 8 to 11 December.
Do Pakistani visitors need a visa for GITEX?
Yes. A UAE visit visa must be approved before travel. Exhibitors can ask the organiser about the events visit visa.
Where should our stand team stay?
Near Expo City or in Dubai Marina and Jebel Ali, which are closer to Dubai Exhibition Centre than Downtown.
Can we combine GITEX with meetings in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Abu Dhabi is about an hour by road from Expo City. We add the day and transport to the plan.
Exhibit or visit
What changes for exhibitors
Exhibitors have more to plan than visitors: build-up days before the opening, a stand team on site every day, and the events visit visa route through the organiser. Visitors can usually arrive the day before and leave after their last meeting. For both, December hotel rates in Dubai are high and rise further in GITEX week, so committing early saves real money.
Many companies book meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi around the show. A day in Abu Dhabi is an easy road trip from the south of Dubai, which is another reason to stay near Expo City rather than Downtown.
Plan with Go Global
Planning a GITEX Global delegation?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.