Trade Fairs in the Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

United Arab Emirates (40 upcoming fairs, 2 with a ready list): Dubai has two large venues: Dubai World Trade Centre in the business district and Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. Abu Dhabi has the ADNEC exhibition grounds. Many Dubai trading companies resell to Africa and South Asia, so its fairs also draw buyers from outside the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia (25 upcoming fairs, 1 with a ready list): Saudi Arabia is the most populous Gulf market, and new fairs in construction, energy, healthcare and food have multiplied in recent years. Most large fairs are in Riyadh, some in Jeddah and Dammam. Public projects and large family groups shape a great deal of purchasing.

Qatar: Qatar is a small market with high purchasing power. Fairs are mostly held in Doha, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) and at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Construction, infrastructure and hospitality projects lead demand.

Several large Dubai fairs have changed venue recently: GITEX GLOBAL moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City from its 2026 edition, and Gulfood ran across two venues for the first time in 2026. Arab Health now runs under the name WHX Dubai (World Health Expo). Check the venue on the official website each year.

Fair pages in our directory: Gulfood, The Big 5, WHX Dubai and GITEX. Names without a link have no upcoming edition in the directory yet. Fairs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar appear in the table below.

Showing 15 fairs. The country calendars are linked above, and all fairs with a ready list are on the exhibitor lists page.

Foreign manufacturers usually enter Gulf markets through a local partner. Three structures are common:

Importer or distributor

Buys on its own account and handles customs, storage and sales. For most suppliers this is the first target.

Commercial agent

Represents the manufacturer in a defined territory. Under the UAE's 2022 federal commercial agencies law, agency is in principle reserved for UAE nationals or companies wholly owned by them, and the agreement is registered with the Ministry of Economy.

Free zone company

UAE free zones such as Jebel Ali allow foreign-owned companies; selling from a free zone into the domestic market follows additional rules.

In Saudi Arabia, agency and distribution agreements are also recorded with the Ministry of Commerce and run by local partners. Depending on the product there are separate registration and conformity procedures, for example with the SFDA for food, medicines and medical devices. Rules change, so take advice from a lawyer in the country before signing an exclusive agreement. This section is general information, not legal advice.

• Ask the channel question openly: saying that you are looking for a distributor or regional partner for a product group lets an importer decide quickly.
• Give references: name the type of project or customer you supply in the region or in similar markets; in the Gulf, trust comes before the sale.
• State certification and registration: halal certificates, conformity certificates and registration status in the target country are early screening questions.
• Propose a face-to-face meeting: offer a specific day during the fair or your next visit; first relationships in the region are usually built in person.

Time differences are small: the UAE is four hours ahead of the UK in winter and three in summer, Saudi Arabia and Qatar one hour less. For wording, see our meeting request templates.

• Six to eight weeks before: open the list in your account and sort companies by country and type. Many Dubai traders sell into several countries; keep them in a separate group.
• Three to four weeks before: send a short introduction and meeting request, allowing for the different weekends.
• Fair week: confirm meetings; a short first meeting at the stand is often followed by an office visit.
• After the fair: come back within a week with a price list and a sample offer. Our follow-up guide covers the next steps.

These time frames are rough practical guidance, not measured figures.

In Expomatik the list is opened in your account, campaigns go to each company's general address and opens are not tracked. The price of a list is shown before you open it; see Pricing. For the rules on emailing companies, see Is It Legal to Email Trade Fair Exhibitors?

Do I need a local agent to sell in the Gulf?

Not for every sale. Many foreign suppliers sell through a local importer or distributor. A formal commercial agency is different: in the UAE and Saudi Arabia the agent generally has to be a local national or locally owned company, and the agreement is registered with a ministry. Take advice from a lawyer in the country before you sign.

Which days are working days in the Gulf?

Since 2022 the official weekend in the UAE is Saturday and Sunday. In Saudi Arabia and Qatar the weekend is Friday and Saturday, so Sunday is a normal working day there.

Does business stop during Ramadan?

It slows rather than stops: working hours are shorter and meetings may move to the evening. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates for the year and plan important meetings around them.

Should I write to Gulf buyers in Arabic?

English is widely used in business and is fine for a first contact. Product labels, public tenders and some official documents may require Arabic, and Arabic product information is a courtesy at the quotation stage.