For Business · Exhibitions & Events

Exhibition Shipping in Dubai — GITEX, Gulfood, Arab Health, Big 5 & More

We ship your exhibition stand, samples and equipment into Dubai for the show and back out again afterwards. Temporary import and ATA Carnet handled, customs cleared, and everything delivered to your stand by the organiser's move-in deadline.

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Updated 13 August 2026 · 2026 rates

Exhibition shipping in Dubai — workers unloading stands and equipment at a trade show venue

Book 4+ months ahead. Exhibition freight and customs slots for GITEX, Gulfood, Arab Health and The Big 5 fill up early, and organisers enforce strict move-in windows. The earlier you book, the safer your stand arrives on time.

Major Dubai exhibitions we ship for

Most large trade shows run at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), with some at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City. Here is when the big ones fall and when to book.

Event	Typical month	Venue	Book by
GITEX Global	October	DWTC	4+ months ahead
Gulfood	February	DWTC	4+ months ahead
Arab Health	Late January	DWTC	4+ months ahead
The Big 5	November	DWTC	4+ months ahead
Beautyworld Middle East	Late October / November	DWTC	3–4 months ahead
Automechanika Dubai	December	DWTC	3–4 months ahead

Check exact 2026 dates on the official event sites: GITEX, Gulfood, Arab Health and The Big 5.

What we ship for exhibitors

From a full custom stand down to a box of brochures — in, and back out again.

What	How we handle it
Exhibition stands	Custom-built stands, modular systems, flooring and signage delivered to your hall and stand number.
Product samples	Demo units and samples shipped in, cleared through customs, and returned or disposed of after the show.
Heavy equipment	Machinery and large display units with the right handling, lift-gate and on-site delivery.
Marketing material	Brochures, banners, giveaways and AV kit timed to arrive before your build-up day.
Return shipments	Everything packed and shipped back out after the show — home or to your next event.

In for the show, out afterwards

Exhibition freight is a round trip. We manage both directions so nothing is left stuck in a hall or in customs.

Inbound (before the show)

We collect from origin, arrange temporary import or ATA Carnet clearance, and deliver to your stand by the organiser’s move-in deadline.

During the show

On-call support for last-minute samples, spares or replacement material delivered to the hall.

Outbound (after the show)

We pack, re-export and ship everything back so nothing is left behind or stuck in customs.

ATA Carnet & temporary import, explained

Most exhibition goods are not being sold — they come in for the show and leave again. An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that lets those goods enter the UAE for the event and exit without paying import duty or VAT, as long as they leave within the allowed period.

No duty or VAT paid on stands, demo units and samples that re-export
One document covers customs both ways
We arrange a temporary import bond if a Carnet is not available
We track the re-export so your Carnet is closed correctly

Full walkthrough in our ATA Carnet UAE guide, and the wider paperwork in our UAE export documentation checklist.

Working backwards from move-in day

Organisers publish a strict move-in window before the show opens. We build your whole timeline around it:

You give us the move-in date and stand number.
We plan collection and customs with a buffer built in.
Goods reach your stand before build-up, not after.
After the show we re-export everything back out.

Customs rules and duties are published by Dubai Customs.

Like-for-like comparison

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Get your exhibition quote

Ship your stand to Dubai on time

Tell us the show, your stand number and what you are sending. We'll plan the timeline around the move-in deadline and quote inbound, outbound and Carnet in one go.

Timeline built backwards from move-in day
ATA Carnet or temporary import arranged for you
One team for delivery in and shipment out

Prefer to chat first? Message us on WhatsApp, or start at our business shipping hub.

Frequently asked questions

Which Dubai exhibitions do you ship for?

All the major ones — GITEX Global (October), Gulfood (February), Arab Health (late January), The Big 5 (November), Beautyworld Middle East and Automechanika Dubai. Most are held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). We deliver to your specific hall and stand number by the organiser’s move-in deadline.

What is an ATA Carnet and do I need one?

An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that lets you bring goods into the UAE for an exhibition and take them back out again without paying import duty or VAT — as long as they leave within the allowed period. It is ideal for stands, demo units and samples that are not being sold. We arrange it, or a temporary import bond if a Carnet is not available. See our ATA Carnet UAE guide for the full process.

How far ahead should I book?

Book at least four months before big shows like GITEX, Gulfood, Arab Health and The Big 5. Exhibition freight, customs clearance and on-site delivery slots fill up fast, and organisers set strict move-in windows. Booking early is the single best way to avoid your stand arriving late.

Can you handle both delivery to the stand and the return shipment?

Yes. We manage the full round trip: inbound collection, customs clearance, on-stand delivery before your build-up day, then packing and re-export after the show back to your home country or your next event. You deal with one team for both directions.

What happens if my goods miss the move-in deadline?

Missing the deadline can mean your stand cannot be built and goods sit in customs storage racking up fees. That is why we work backwards from the organiser’s published move-in date and build in a buffer for customs. Give us the deadline and we plan the whole timeline around it.

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