Dubai global technology showcase, GITEX GLOBAL, will move to Expo City Dubai in 2026.
The move comes under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the guidance of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The change in location also includes Expand North Star, marks a new chapter for the region’s largest international technology event.
Gitex Global 2026 at Expo City Dubai
The 2026 edition will take place from December 7 to 11, introducing a new concept — ‘TechCation’, the world’s first large-scale technology and lifestyle fusion experience, designed to showcase Dubai as a destination where innovation and culture converge.
Relocating GITEX GLOBAL to Expo City Dubai aligns with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world’s top three urban economies.
After 45 years of growth, GITEX GLOBAL 2026 will reshape the global technology events calendar by combining innovation, investment and destination experiences under one platform.
The new TechCation initiative will feature citywide activations blending business, creativity and leisure — reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination.
Dubai’s global appeal was recently reaffirmed by its number one ranking in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations Awards 2024.
TechCation concept
The shift of GITEX GLOBAL to December positions the event at the centre of Dubai’s peak tourism period, offering visiting tech executives and investors an immersive experience that integrates the city’s cultural and social offerings.
Beyond the exhibition floor, GITEX TechCation will transform Dubai into a live, connected platform where technology, business, and lifestyle intersect.
GITEX continues to collaborate with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and partners across hospitality, wellness, eco-tourism, and lifestyle sectors to design tailored staycation and experience programmes for delegates and visitors.
Advancing Dubai’s D33 vision
GITEX TechCation has been conceived in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which envisions the emirate among the world’s top three urban economies by 2033.
The agenda reinforces Dubai’s reputation as a preferred destination for technology leaders, investors, and digital nomads, supported by world-class business, cultural and lifestyle infrastructure in one of the world’s safest and most connected cities.
In September 2025, the emirate ranked first worldwide in Greenfield FDI projects, attracting $11bn (AED40.4bn) in inflows during the first half of the year (Dubai FDI Monitor).
Dubai also ranked first globally in the Savills Executive Nomad Index and second in the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index, highlighting its growing appeal to mobile entrepreneurs.
By drawing global talent and investment, GITEX TechCation will further strengthen the status as the world’s best city to live, create and innovate.
GITEX 5.0
The 2026 edition, known as GITEX 5.0, signals a new era for the event and the wider global tech ecosystem.
Its new venue, the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City, is undergoing a $2.7bn (AED9.9bn) expansion, which will make it the largest purpose-built indoor events complex in the region.
The show opens on December 7 with the GITEX Scale Summit, a new outcomes-focused forum for global leaders to discuss the policy frameworks shaping AI-driven economies.
From December 8 to 11, GITEX will showcase frontier innovations in AI, quantum computing, biosciences and advanced manufacturing, facilitating collaboration across emerging sectors.
By bringing GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star together under one roof, the event will unite tech giants, policymakers, startups, investors, and founders, cementing the emirate’s position as a world-leading meeting point for scale, capital and ideas.
