GITEX 2026 Dates, New Venue & Getting There by Rental Car

GITEX Global 2026 runs from 7 to 11 December 2026 in Dubai. The week opens with the GITEX Summit on Monday 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and the main GITEX Global Expo, with its conference stages, runs from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai. If you remember GITEX as an October show at DWTC, both the month and the main venue have changed: the 2025 edition ran 13–17 October across DWTC and Dubai Harbour.

Below: the confirmed facts from the organiser and the venue, what has not been published yet, and how to drive to Expo City in a rental car, from routes, parking and Salik tolls to airport pick-up and the right car class for a business trip.

GITEX 2026 dates and venue: what is confirmed

The official GITEX conference overview splits the week into two parts. The GITEX Summit is a one-day, high-level programme on Monday 7 December at DWTC, and the visitor registration site marks it as open to selected delegate passes only. The GITEX Global Expo, with five conference stages, leadership roundtables and free Tech Talks, runs from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 December at Expo City Dubai.

The move to Expo City was announced in October 2025. DWTC, which organises GITEX, says Dubai Exhibition Centre is undergoing a US$2.7 billion expansion and sits close to Al Maktoum International Airport.

Opening hours

When we checked on 4 October 2026, neither gitex.com nor the venue had published daily opening times for the 2026 expo. Watch for them in your registration confirmation and the organiser's visitor emails, and until then leave a margin for parking and the shuttle bus on your first day.

Which days do most visitors need?

Unless your pass includes the Summit, you only need to reach Expo City, on the four expo days. Delegates with Summit access split the week: DWTC, in Dubai's central business district, on Monday, then Expo City from Tuesday.

What is the full form of GITEX?

GITEX stands for Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, as listed on the UAE Government portal (u.ae). The event now brands itself GITEX GLOBAL, and the 2025 edition was its 45th.

Driving to Expo City Dubai in a rental car

Routes

According to the Dubai Exhibition Centre visitor FAQs, the venue is reached via Expo Road (E77) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). It is about 40 km from Dubai International Airport (DXB), a drive of roughly 35–45 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis and ride-hailing cars use the North and South drop-off points on Boulevard 2020 Street; as a driver, follow the signs to the car parks instead.

Save the venue and your parking zone in your navigation app the night before, and give yourself a generous margin on the first expo day. On a day you would rather not drive, Expo 2020 Metro Station, at the end of the Red Line, is a few minutes' walk from the venue.

Parking

Expo City Dubai says parking at Expo City is free for all visitors. The venue FAQs list more than 2,300 on-site visitor parking spaces, with a shuttle bus running on a schedule throughout the event day between the car parks and the halls. GITEX has not published a show-specific parking plan yet, so check the organiser's emails closer to the date.

Two habits save time: photograph the zone and row signs where you park, and build the shuttle ride into your timing in both directions.

Salik tolls

Dubai's road tolls are charged automatically. Under Salik's variable toll rates, from Monday to Saturday a crossing costs AED 6 plus VAT from 6 to 10 am and from 4 to 8 pm, AED 4 plus VAT from 10 am to 4 pm and from 8 pm to 1 am, and nothing between 1 and 6 am. VAT at 5% has applied to toll transactions since 1 June 2026, so a peak crossing comes to AED 6.30. The expo days fall on Tuesday to Friday, so a drive in before 10 am is charged at the peak rate if your route crosses a gate. Salik says its gates sit at strategic points, especially on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Salik requires a tag on every vehicle that passes through its gates, so a rental car should already have one fitted. How the company bills those crossings back to you depends on its rental terms, so before you sign, ask how much it charges per crossing and whether it adds an admin fee. Our guide to RTA fines for rental cars explains how traffic fines are handled too.

Airport pick-up: DXB or DWC

DXB is the main airport for most international visitors. Al Maktoum International (DWC) is very close to Dubai Exhibition Centre but, according to the venue FAQ, currently serves a limited number of commercial flights. If you land at DXB, ask the rental company to meet you at the terminal or to deliver the car to your hotel. See the Dubai airport car rental listings and our DXB car rental guide for terminal tips, and check the licence and IDP rules before you fly.

Staying inside Expo City? Expo City Dubai lists Rove Expo City as within walking distance of the exhibition centre. In that case you may only need a car on the days you have meetings elsewhere in the city.

Which car class suits a GITEX business trip?

On 4 October 2026, Rento Line had 225 live cars listed in Dubai by four rental companies, including 51 sedans and 27 cars with seven or more seats. The prices below are the companies' own listed rates on that date. Companies set and change their prices, and you pay the company directly.

Mid-size sedan: one or two people

For a solo visitor, or a pair with cabin bags, a mid-size sedan is easy to park and comfortable for the drive out to Expo City. One example is a Mazda 6 from Alrafaheia Car Rental at AED 150/day (listed at AED 188, 20% off), and its page shows no security deposit. Another is a 2023 Toyota Corolla from 4Matic Rental at AED 170/day or AED 1,071/week.

Executive sedan: client meetings and hosting

If you will collect clients or drive to meetings in DIFC or Business Bay after the show, an executive sedan suits the job. Examples include a Mercedes-Benz E300 from Alrafaheia at AED 450/day (listed at AED 563), a 2023 BMW 520i, also from Alrafaheia, at AED 429/day (listed at AED 640) and a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E200 from 4Matic Rental at AED 500/day or AED 3,150/week. You can compare more on the sedan rental page.

Seven seats or more: teams and demo kit

Exhibitor teams moving people and boxes of demo equipment need space. Options include a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas with seven seats at AED 200/day (listed at AED 250) and a 2023 Hyundai Staria with 11 seats from 4Matic Rental at AED 400/day or AED 2,520/week. If you are exhibiting, confirm loading and access arrangements with the organiser before you rely on the car for stand equipment.

Daily or weekly rental for GITEX week?

The expo itself lasts four days, but with an arrival day and a departure day you may need a car for five to seven days. Where a listing shows both rates, do the maths. The Toyota Corolla above costs AED 1,020 for six days at the daily rate but AED 1,071 for a week, so the weekly rate only wins once you keep it for seven days (AED 1,190 at the daily rate). The Mercedes-Benz E200 follows the same pattern: AED 3,000 for six days at the daily rate against AED 3,150 for a week, and AED 3,500 for seven days.

Many listings show only a daily rate, sometimes discounted: on 4 October, 97 of the 225 live Dubai listings included a weekly price. For the others, message the company for a quote covering your exact dates, and get the daily kilometre allowance, Salik charges and any delivery fee in writing. The 2025 edition brought together more than 6,800 exhibitors, according to the organiser, so it makes sense to arrange your car as soon as your flights are fixed.

Frequently asked questions

When is GITEX 2026?

7–11 December 2026. The Summit is on 7 December at DWTC; the expo runs 8–11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.

Is GITEX 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre?

Only the one-day Summit on 7 December, for selected delegate passes. The main expo has moved to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai.

Is parking free at Dubai Exhibition Centre?

Expo City Dubai, where the venue sits, says parking is free for all visitors, and the venue lists more than 2,300 visitor spaces with shuttle buses to the halls. GITEX has not published show-specific parking instructions yet, so check its visitor emails before you go.

Bottom line

The GITEX 2026 dates are 7–11 December, with the expo on 8–11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. You can drive there via E311 or E77, Expo City says its parking is free for all visitors, and on top of the rental itself you should budget for fuel and Salik crossings. Compare sedans and seven-seaters from Dubai rental companies on Rento Line's Car Rental Dubai page, then contact the company directly by call or WhatsApp, with no booking fee.