Dubai and GCC Business Events Calendar: November 2026 to April 2027
Short answer
From November 2026 to April 2027, the key business dates for Dubai and the GCC include Gulfood Manufacturing and Private Label Middle East (3 to 5 November), Automechanika Dubai (10 to 12 November), Big 5 Global (23 to 26 November), White Friday (27 November), UAE National Day (2 December), GITEX Global (7 to 11 December), WHX Dubai (25 to 28 January), Web Summit Qatar (31 January to 3 February), Chinese New Year (6 February), Ramadan (expected from about 8 February), Saudi Founding Day (22 February), Gulfood (15 to 19 March), LEAP in Riyadh (12 to 15 April) and the Canton Fair spring session (from about 15 April).
Key takeaways
- ✓Q4 is packed: lock your event budget and stock plans now.
- ✓Ramadan 2027 moves activity earlier: many deals need closing in January.
- ✓Chinese New Year and Ramadan nearly overlap; order stock by November.
- ✓Pick two or three events that match your buyers, not all of them.
The calendar
| Dates | Event or moment | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 Nov 2026 | Gulfood Manufacturing and Private Label Middle East, DWTC | F&B and private label brands. Guide |
| 10 to 12 Nov 2026 | Automechanika Dubai, Expo City | Auto parts and accessories. Guide |
| 11 Nov 2026 | Singles Day (11.11) | E-commerce. Guide |
| 23 to 26 Nov 2026 | Big 5 Global, DWTC | Construction and building materials. Guide |
| 27 Nov 2026 | White Friday | Retail and e-commerce. Plan |
| 2 Dec 2026 | UAE National Day | All UAE brands. Ideas |
| 7 to 11 Dec 2026 | GITEX Global (summit 7 Dec, expo 8 to 11 Dec), Expo City | Tech and B2B. Plan |
| Dec 2026 to Jan 2027 | Dubai Shopping Festival season | Retail. Guide |
| 25 to 28 Jan 2027 | WHX Dubai (formerly Arab Health), Expo City | Healthcare. Guide |
| 31 Jan to 3 Feb 2027 | Web Summit Qatar, Doha | Startups and tech. Guide |
| 6 Feb 2027 | Chinese New Year | Anyone manufacturing in China. Calendar |
| About 8 Feb 2027 | Ramadan begins (expected) | All brands. Calendar |
| 22 Feb 2027 | Saudi Founding Day | Brands in KSA. Ideas |
| About 9 or 10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (expected) | Retail, gifting, travel |
| 15 to 19 Mar 2027 | Gulfood, DWTC and Expo City | Food and beverage. Guide |
| 12 to 15 Apr 2027 | LEAP, Riyadh | Tech and B2B in KSA. Guide |
| From about 15 Apr 2027 | Canton Fair spring session, Guangzhou | Sourcing. Guide |
Dates for Ramadan and Eid depend on moon sighting. Event dates come from organisers and official listings; always confirm on the official website before booking.
Planning an event, exhibition or launch?
Husbar plans, books and runs events end to end, built around the leads and results you want afterwards.
Plan your event with HusbarHow to choose your events
- Start with where your buyers already go, not where your competitors exhibit.
- Decide your goal for each event: leads, partners, sourcing or brand.
- Budget for pre-show marketing and follow-up, not just the stand.
- Measure meetings booked, qualified leads and deals influenced.
Husbar plans event marketing, exhibitions and follow-up for brands across the GCC. See event management, or plan your event with Husbar.
What are the biggest business events in Dubai this winter?+
Big 5 Global (November), GITEX Global (December), WHX Dubai (January) and Gulfood (March) are among the largest.
When is GITEX Global 2026?+
The GITEX summit is on 7 December and the expo runs 8 to 11 December 2026 at Expo City Dubai.
When does Ramadan 2027 start?+
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting.
Which events should a B2B company attend?+
Choose the events where your buyers already go, then plan meetings and follow-up before you book a stand.
Sources
- Khaleej Times and Gulf Business: Dubai events season calendar 2026.
- Organiser websites: Big 5 Global, GITEX, World Health Expo, Gulfood, LEAP, Canton Fair.
- The National: Ramadan 2027 expected dates (UAE Astronomy Centre).
Team Husbar
Husbar Editorial
Team Husbar is the strategy, psychology and research team at Husbar, a psychology-led growth agency headquartered in Dubai. Together we have worked with 100+ brands over 10+ years.
Planning an event, exhibition or launch?
Husbar plans, books and runs events end to end, built around the leads and results you want afterwards.
Plan your event with Husbar
