Cost and lead time

Dubai exhibition stand cost and lead-time guide.

Use these provider-published planning ranges to sanity-check quotes before you send a brief. They are indicative ranges, not supplier offers, and every final price still depends on event, venue, deadline, materials, services, and approval scope.

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Planning ranges

Compare stand format before comparing supplier prices

Indicative Dubai exhibition stand ranges gathered from current provider-published guides.
Stand format Typical size AED / sqm 36 sqm planning total Lead time Best used for
Shell scheme upgrade 9-18 sqm AED 800-1,200 Not usually priced as 36 sqm 2-3 weeks Small booths that need graphics, counters, lighting, furniture, and cleaner branding over a standard shell package.
Modular stand 12-54 sqm AED 1,200-2,200 About AED 43,000-79,000 3-5 weeks Repeat exhibitors, tighter timelines, or brands that can trade full custom fabrication for reusable structure.
Custom-built stand 18-100 sqm AED 2,200-4,000 About AED 79,000-144,000 6-10 weeks Brand-led booths with product displays, meeting rooms, custom finishes, storage, or stronger visitor flow needs.
Premium island stand 36-200+ sqm AED 4,000-6,500 About AED 144,000-234,000 10-16 weeks High-visibility island booths, LED walls, hospitality zones, technical demos, and higher-finish environments.
Double-deck stand 36-150 sqm AED 5,000-8,500+ About AED 180,000-306,000 12-18 weeks Two-level stands where structure, approvals, engineering, venue rules, and longer production control matter.

What moves the number

Cost drivers to lock before design starts

  • Booth footprint, open sides, height, and whether the design is shell, modular, custom, island, pavilion, or double-deck.
  • Materials, finishes, lighting, flooring, counters, storage, furniture, and branded graphics quality.
  • AV, LED, interactive demos, product display loads, power, rigging, and technical integration.
  • Venue service orders, approvals, access windows, transport, installation, dismantling, and storage.
  • Timeline pressure: late briefs, late graphics, or rush production can change both price and delivery risk.

GITEX 2026 note

Use venue context early

The official GITEX page lists a Summit on 7 Dec 2026 and the main Expo from 8-11 Dec 2026 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City. For GITEX briefs, ask suppliers whether they are pricing for that venue context and build schedule.

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Quote scope

Make every supplier answer the same line items

Quote scope questions that keep supplier proposals comparable.
Line item Ask every supplier Why it changes price
Design and revisions How many concepts and revision rounds are included before change fees start? One quote may include only a render, while another includes full design development and production drawings.
Production method What is built in-house, rented, reused, subcontracted, or bought new for this stand? Modular, rental, and custom fabrication can look similar in a proposal but age, reuse, and cost very differently.
Graphics and branding Are printing, artwork checks, replacement graphics, counters, signage, and deadline changes included? Late artwork or extra print runs can create add-ons after the headline booth price looks settled.
Venue and approvals Who handles manuals, permits, structural review, fire-rated materials, badges, and service orders? Venue-billed and supplier-billed items are easy to mix up unless every quote uses the same assumptions.
Installation and dismantling How many crew, site days, show support hours, handover checks, and dismantling tasks are included? A cheaper quote may omit show-day support, overtime, post-show handling, or storage.
AV and technical demos Which screens, LED walls, power loads, internet needs, demo stations, and backup plans are covered? Technology-heavy GITEX-style booths can move quickly from furniture pricing into engineering and AV pricing.

Sources

Source basis for this guide