The initial phase of the Dh10-billion Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) is set to complete early 2026, six months ahead of schedule, welcoming its first major event in January.
This phase will offer 140,000 square meters of space for exhibitions, conferences, and large-scale events. It includes 64,000 square meters of new permanent exhibition halls and 30,000 square meters of flexible temporary pavilions.
Phase two, covering 160,000 square meters, is expected by 2028 and will feature permanent halls, service yards, improved road networks, and direct links to Expo City.
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The final phase is slated for 2031, providing 180,000 square meters of indoor space across 26 halls on a single level, plus integrated hospitality, retail, and commercial facilities.
In January, Gulfood, the largest global food exhibition, will occur simultaneously at the DEC and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), featuring over 8,500 exhibitors and 1.5 million products from 195 countries across 12 sectors.
The DEC will host the World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai in February, attracting over 235,000 professionals and 4,300 exhibitors from more than 180 countries.
Visitors will benefit from the venue’s connection to the Expo 2020 metro station, offering direct access to the DEC arrival plaza.
Largest Exhibitions Venue
In September 2024, Dubai unveiled a Dh10 billion expansion plan for the DEC at Expo City Dubai. Upon completion, it will be the region’s largest purpose-built indoor events and exhibitions venue.
“Currently, over 4,000 skilled professionals are working, logging over 9 million hours to ensure facility readiness by early 2026. The official phase one completion is set for July 2026, but we’re ahead by six months,” stated Amer Al Farsi, vice president for real estate development at DWTC, which owns and manages DWTC and DEC facilities.
“Delivering such a project is challenging, but it demonstrates Dubai’s ability to execute complex developments with speed, precision, and purpose,” he explained.
“With Phase 1 nearing completion, every milestone was achieved through close collaboration with city partners,” said Amer Al Farsi.
Mahir Julfar, executive vice president at Dubai World Trade Centre, noted that DEC’s expansion highlights Dubai’s capability to host large-scale international events.
“The readiness of the expanded venue in record time shows seamless government and city partner collaboration, from infrastructure to visitor experience. As we gear up for our 2026 mega events, our focus remains on providing an exceptional experience for all exhibitors and visitors,” he added.
