Sharmaigne Torella
- 9 min read

Gateway's Dubai Conference & Exhibition Guide 2020

28th January 2020

If you are planning to attend or even exhibit in any of the numerous conferences and exhibitions in Dubai this year, then Gateway's first Dubai Conference & Exhibition Guide 2020 will help you to identify the most relevant events for you business.

Attending exhibitions and events is a great way to start learning about the local market in Dubai, identifying who the key players are in your sector, as well as your local competitors, trends, opportunities and meeting with potential clients and business partners.

If you decide there are opportunities for your business in Dubai, then its worth knowing in advance that to do business here you will likely need to set up a business in Dubai. Registering a business in Dubai is likely to be quite different to regulations and requirements for starting a business in your home jurisdiction, so just being aware of what your obligations might be in advance will ensure that you have a head start as you build up local relationships and start negotiating for potential pieces of business - Gateway's tips for expanding your business into Dubai will be really helpful.

Throughout the listings below, please note the following venue abbreviations:

DWTC = Dubai World Trade Centre

DICEC = Dubai International Conference & Exhibition Centre

January

12-14 Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East, DWTC (Advertising & Media)

13-15 Paper One Show, Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City (Paper & Printing)

14-15 Oracle OpenWorld Middle East: Dubai (IT)

19-20 Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference (PAHGC) Roda Al Bustan Dubai Airport, (Healthcare)

19-21 Intersec, DWTC (Fire)

20-21 Global Dairy Innovation Congress MENA, Grand Millennium Business Bay (Food & Beverage)

20-21 TM Forum’s Digital Transformation Middle East, Conrad Dubai (IT & Technology)

20-22 International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, Atana Hotel (Education)

21 Middle East Wealth Management Forum, Ritz Carlton (Finance)

22 HR Innovation Day, Hilton Dubai Creek, (Education & Training)

22-24 International Education Show, Expo Centre Sharjah (Education & HR)

27-28 Emergency Medicine, DWTC (Healthcare)

27-30 Arab Health, DWTC (Healthcare)

27-30 OBS-GYNE Conference, Conrad Dubai (Healthcare)

February

03-06 Medlab Middle East, DWTC (Healthcare)

04-09 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, InterContinental Dubai (Culture)

05-08 BRIDE Show, DWTC (Fashion & Beauty)

04-06 UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition, DWTC (Healthcare)

05-06 The Arab Woman in Leadership and Business Summit (AWILB5), Dusit Thani Dubai (Business)

09-11 Sleep Expo, DWTC (Consumer Goods)

10-12 Health and Environment Conference, DICEC (Healthcare)

11-12 Smart City Expo, DIFC District 5 (Construction & Education)

13 Digital Marketing Summit, Hilton Dubai Creek (Marketing)

16-20 Gulfood, DWTC (Food, Hotel & Catering)

17-18 Professional Beauty GCC, Festival Arena Dubai Festival City (Beauty)

22 Gulf Expo, Dubai (Education)

24-26 Nanotech Middle East 2020, DWTC (IT)

24-26 International Family Medicine Conference & Exhibition, DWTC (Healthcare)

24-26 Innovation Arabia Conference, DWTC (Business & Finance)

25-26 Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) & Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO ME), DWTC (Transport)

25 -27 Dubai International Pharmaceutical & Technology Conference & Exhibition (DUPHAT), DWTC (Pharmaceuticals)

March

03-05 Middle East Energy, DWTC (Energy)

03-05 Agra Middle East Exhibition, DWTC (Agriculture)

10-12 Careers UAE, DWTC (Education)

05-07 Applied Linguistics & Language Teaching International Conference & Exhibition, Zayed University (Education)

08-11 Dubai Lynx, Madinat Jumeirah (Business & Services)

09-11 Leatherworld Middle East, DICEC (Fashion)

09-11 Paperworld Middle East, DWTC (Packaging & Printing)

09-11 Middle East Coatings Show, DWTC (Industrial)

09-11 Playworld Middle East, DWTC (Baby, Kids & Maternity)

09-11 Intelligence Support Systems World Middle East, JW Marriott Hotel Dubai (Security)

09-11 Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East (Gifts & Lifestyle ME) DWTC (Arts & Crafts)

10-12 Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition, DICEC (Healthcare)

10-12 Careers UAE, DWTC (Education)

13-14 The School And Nursery Show, Madinat Jumeirah (Education)

13-14 British Boarding Schools Show Dubai, Sheraton Mall of the Emirates (Education)

16-17 BIM Middle East 2020 Conference & Expo Dubai (Construction)

16-18 ARABLAB, DWTC (Healthcare)

16-18 Dubai International Wood & Wood Machinery Show, DWTC (Industrial)

16-18 Dubai World Dermatology & Laser Conference & Exhibition (Healthcare)

23-25 DEAL 2020, DWTC (Entertainment)

24 -26 International Property Show, DWTC (Real Estate)

25-26 Seamless Payments Middle East, DWTC (Finance)

25-26 Seamless E-Commerce, DICEC (Finance)

25-28 Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah (Arts & Crafts)

26-28 Annual Middle East Otolaryngology Conference and Exhibition, Conrad Hotel, (Healthcare)

31-02 CABSAT Middle East, DWTC (Broadcasting & Communications)

April

01-02 Digital Games Conference Dubai, DWTC, (IT & Technology)

01-02 Future Datacentres & Cloud Infrastructure Summit, Sofitel The Palm (IT & Technology)

02-03 MENA FX Traders EXPO & Conference (Finance)

02-04 Emirates Critical Care Conference, The Event Centre, Dubai Festival City (Healthcare)

02-04 International Conference on Vibroengineering (JVE Conference in Dubai) JA Ocean View Hotel (Industrial Engineering)

04 Investment In Human Capital Conference & Awards, DWTC (Business & HR)

06 Gulf Supply Chain Leadership Senate, The Address Dubai Mall (Logistics)

06 International Conference on Women Leadership and Empowerment, City Avenue Hotel (Business)

05-07 Mega City Infrastructure Week, Madinat Jumeirah (Construction)

06-07 Mosque Design and Development Summit, Ritz-Carlton (Construction)

06-07 Retrofit Tech Summit, Le Meridien (Industrial)

06-08 Gulf Information Security EXPO & Conference (GISEC), DWTC (IT)

07-08 Future Blockchain Summit, DWTC (IT)

07-08 HR Excellence MENA Summit, Sofitel Downtown (HR)

07-08 Middle East Smart Landscape Summit Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, Dubai (Environment)

07-08 BuildIT Middle East, Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City (Real Estate & Construction)

07-09 International Apparel & Textile Fair (IATF) DWTC (Apparel & Clothing)

08-09 Wellbeing360, The Address Dubai Mall (Healthcare)

08-09 Industrial Revolution: Transforming Businesses, Higher College of Technology Dubai (Business)

08-10 AIM Startup, DWTC (Business)

08-11 World Art Dubai, World Trade Centre (Arts & Crafts)

09-11 International Congress for Joint Reconstruction Middle East 2020, InterContinental Festival Cityai (Healthcare)

13-14 International Conference on Business Management, Innovation, and Sustainability (ICBMIS) Amity University (Business)

13-14 Middle East & North Africa Transport Congress & Exhibition, DWTC (Transport)

13-15 BICSI Middle East & Africa District Conference & Exhibition, DWTC (IT)

14-15 Middle East Investment Summit (MEIS), Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Business)

16-18 International Arabic Cochlear Implant Conference (IACIC), InterContinental Dubai - Festival City (Healthcare)

18 Investment in United Arab Emirates Conference & Awards DWTC (Business)

19-21 OPEX Week Middle East Business Transformation Leaders’ Summit (Business)

19-22 Arabian Travel Market, DWTC (Leisure, Sport, Travel)

20-21 Global Business Summit (GBS) Flora Grand Hotel (Business)

21 Onshore Energy Conference, Waldorf Astoria (Energy)

24-25 Global Conference on Business Management and Social Sciences (GCBMS), Radisson Blu Hotel Apartments Dubai Silicon Oasis (Business)

May

08-09 International Conference on Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences (ICMMH),

Flora Grand Hotel, (Healtchare)

15-16 International Conference on Engineering, Computer Science, Design and Control Technology, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Engineering)

15-16 International Conference on Social Science and Multidisciplinary Research Dimensions (SMRD), Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Science & Research)

15-16 International Conference on Contemporary Issues in Business, Management, and Social Sciences (CBMS), Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Business)

28-30 World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, Madinat Jumeirah (Food)

31-02 Beauty World Middle East, DWTC (Fashion & Beauty)

June

03-05 World Vape Show, DWTC (Consumer Goods)

04-05 Emirates Pediatric Endocrine Conference InterContinental Festival City (Healthcare)

05-08 Harvard Model United Nations Dubai (HMUN) Grand Hyatt Dubai (Business)

07-09 Automechanika Middle East, DWTC (Transport)

07-09 Hardware & Tools Middle East, DWTC (Construction)

08-11 International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO Annual Conference), DWTC (Security)

11 IDC Middle East CISO Summit, Burj Al Arab (Business)

12-13 International Conference on Software Application, Engineering and Applied Sciences (SAEA), Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (IT & Engineering)

12-13 International Conference on Innovation Challenges in the Field of Social Sciences and Business Research (IFSB), Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Research)

12-13 International Conference on Economics, Business and Multidisciplinary Research in Social Sciences (EBMRS), Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Social Science)

15-16 Middle East Banking AI & Analytics Summit, The Address Downtown (Finance)

17-18 Middle East Special Event & Exhibition Show, Madinat Jumeirah (Events)

20-24 Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) InterContinental Dubai - Festival City (IT & Technology)

22-24 Airport Show Dubai, DWTC (Aviation & Transport)

22-24 Global Airport Leaders Forum, DICEC (Aviation & Transport)

22-24 Airport Security, DWTC (Aviation & Security)

24-25 World Diabetes & Endocrinology Summit, Radisson Blu Deira Creek (Healthcare)

24-25 International Conference on Neurology and Therapeutics, Radisson Blu Deira Creek (Healthcare)

22-26 International Conference on Education and New Development, Arabian Courtyard Hotel (Education)

July

7-18 International Conference on Manufacturing, Design, Engineering, Computer Innovation Research, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Technology & Engineering)

17-18 International Conference on Social Science Education, Business and Disaster Management, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments, Dubai (Business)

17-18 International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Social Sciences & Sustainable Development in Business Management, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments, Dubai (Business)

August

14-15 International Conference on Advanced Networking, Information Technology, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments (Technology & IT)

14-15 International Conference on Literature, Education Social Science and Cultural Issues, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments, Dubai (Education)

14-15 Multidisciplinary Conference on Sociology, Human Resource and Business Management, Flora Creek Deluxe Hotel Apartments, Dubai (Business & HR)

24-28 Education Leadership Capacity In Higher Education, Arabian Courtyard Hotel (Education)

30-02 MDRT Global Conference (Finance)

September

07-09 The Elevator Show, DWTC (Construction)

14-16 The Leisure Show, DWTC (Leisure, Sport & Travel)

14-16 INDEX, DWTC (Interiors)

14-16 The Hotel Show (Food, Hotel & Catering)

14-16 Workspace Show, DWTC (Interiors)

27-30 GITEX Future Stars, DWTC (IT)

27-01 Gitex Tech Week, DWTC (IT)

28-30 Arab Medical Travel (AMT) Festival Arena, Dubai (Healthcare & Travel)

October

06- 07 Middle East School Leadership Conference, Le Meridien (Business & Education)

07 International Cranes & Transport Middle East Conference, Waldorf Astoria (Logistics & Transportation)

06-10 GITEX Shopper DWTC (Electric & Electronics)

15-17 Excellence in Oncology Care (EIOC) InterContinental Dubai - Festival City Dubai (Medical & Pharma)

16-17 World Conference on Neurology Neuroscience & Brain Disorders 2nd Edition

MENA Plaza Hotel Albarsha, Dubai (Medical & Pharma)

20-10 April 2021 Expo2020 Dubai, Dubai World Central

20-21 DigiMarCon Middle East - Digital Marketing Conference Hyatt Regency Dubai (Education & Training)

20-21 TECHSPO Dubai Hyatt Regency Dubai (IT & Technology)

22-24 GCC Pharmacy Congress Roda Al Bustan Dubai Airport (Medical & Pharma)

24 Investment in Ghana Conference & Awards DWTC (Business & Services)

25-27 Retail Congress The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai (Business & Services)

26-28 Seatrade Maritime Middle East (SMME) DICEC (Industrial Product)

26-29 International Children's Continence Society Annual Meeting (ICCS Annual Meeting)

DWTC (Medical & Pharma)

29-31 Patient Safety Conference & Exhibition Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Center (Medical & Pharma)

29-31 CAD/CAM & Digital Dentistry (Conference & Exhibition)

November

01- 02 Nov 2020 International Conference On Arabic Computational Linguistics (ACLING)

The British University in Dubai (Education & Training)

01-03 Annual Radiology Meeting (ARM) DICEC, Dubai (Science & Research)

02-03 Fund Forum Middle East & Emerging Markets The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai (Business Services)

01-04 AerOceaNetwork AGM Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Dubai (Business Services)

02-04 World LPG Forum DWTC, Dubai (Power & Energy)

03-05 Gulfood Manufacturing (GFM) DWTC, Dubai (Food & Beverage)

10-11 Accounting & Finance Show Middle East Festival Arena, Dubai (Banking & Finance)

08-12 Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR)

DICEC, Dubai (Medical & Pharma)

10-12 Cityscape Global DWTC, Dubai (Building & Construction)

10-12 Dubai Helishow E2 Dubai South Event and Exhibition Center, Dubai (Travel & Tourism)

15-17 World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) DWTC (Medical& Pharma)

16-18 HR Summit and Expo (HRSE) DWTC, Dubai (Business Services)

17-18 The Mining Show Festival Arena, Dubai (Industrial Engineering)

21 Global Foreign Direct Investment Show DWTC, Dubai (Banking & Finance)

23-25 Global Conference on Catalysis & Applied Chemical Engineering (GCC) Crown Plaza Dubai (Science & Research)

24-25 Marketing & Sales Show Middle East Festival Arena, Dubai (Industrial Products)

23-26 The Big 5 DWTC (Building Construction)

23-26 Middle East Stone DWTC (Building Construction)

23-26 Middle East Concrete DWTC (Building Construction)

23-26 The Big 5 Heavy DWTC (Building Construction)

23-26 HVAC R Expo DWTC (Industrial Engineering)

25- 26 The Big 5 Solar, DWTC (Power & Energy)

December

05-06 International Conference and Expo on Oil and Gas (Oil and Gas Expo Dubai)

Dubai (Power & Energy)

07 International Civil Aviation Day Summit Dubai (Logistics & Transportation)

06-08 Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo - Dubai

DICEC, Dubai (Food & Beverage)

06-08 Paper Arabia 11th Edition DWTC (Print & Printing)

07-08 World Brain Congress Dubai (Education & Training)

08-09 World Tobacco Middle East (WT Middle East) DWTC (Business Services)

10 Mebba show DWC, Airshow Site, Dubai (Business & Services)

14-16 Middle East Iron & Steel Conference Grand Hyatt Dubai, Dubai (Industrial Engineering)

16-19 International Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies in Education Research and Technology (ISERT) Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga (Science & Research)

21 Investment in Pakistan & Central Asia Conference DWTC (Banking Finance)

If there are any exhibitions or conferences scheduled for Dubai in 2020 that are missing from the above listing, please us know so that we can add them: info@GatewayToUAE.com We will endeavour to expand the listing during the year as more events are confirmed in Dubai.

Business Groups - Networking Events in Dubai

Additionally, throughout the year, the numerous Dubai-based business groups and councils host a variety of networking events. Topics vary and can be sector-specific, sharing regulatory updates or just social networking to help members build up relationships and identify potential business opportunities.

Preparing for your Dubai Events in 2020

If you are planning to attend and/or participate in events in Dubai during 2020, be sure to prepare in advance to ensure you maximise your time:

Identify potential contacts that you would like to do business with in advance and start a conversation to start building a relationship prior to the event.
Understand the regulatory requirements for your business should you intend to start doing business here – you will need to know about business setup in Dubai so that you are legal and compliant and arranging visas for staff. Book a meeting with Gateway whilst you are visiting Dubai so that we can help you navigate the requirements for company formation, local sponsor (if necessary) and visas.
Bring plenty of marketing collateral and business cards

Written by Sharmaigne Torella, Director of First Impressions

Gateway Group of Companies, Abu Dhabi & Dubai UAE