Dubai Exhibition Centre Videographer: Filming at Expo City

Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai has become home to some of the largest trade shows in the city. The venue is operated by Dubai World Trade Centre and is being expanded in phases: DWTC plans to grow it to 180,000 square metres by 2031, making it the region's largest indoor events venue. The first phase was due in early 2026, and since then shows that spent decades at DWTC have started to move.

This guide is for exhibitors and agencies planning a stand shoot at DEC: which shows are there, how to get the crew in, and what to plan differently from DWTC.

Which big shows are at DEC

These are the dates published by the organisers:

• Automechanika Dubai: 10–12 November 2026, its first edition at DEC after moving from DWTC.
• GITEX Global: the expo runs 8–11 December 2026 at DEC, while the GITEX Summit on 7 December is at DWTC. Expand North Star is at Expo City from 8 to 10 December. Our GITEX Global 2026 guide covers it in detail.
• WHX Dubai (formerly Arab Health): 25–28 January 2027 across DEC and DWTC. In February 2026 it took place outside DWTC for the first time in its history.
• Gulfood: 15–19 March 2027 at DWTC and DEC.
• GISEC Global and CABSAT: both 4–6 May 2027 at DEC.
• Middle East Energy: 11–13 May 2027 at DEC.
• Beautyworld Dubai: 19–21 October 2027 at DEC, after its 2026 edition at DWTC.

Not every show has moved. Big 5 Global stays at DWTC from 23 to 26 November 2026; see our Big 5 Global guide. The whole season is in our UAE exhibitions calendar. Dates can change; check the organiser's site.

Getting the crew there

DEC is in the south of Dubai, close to Al Maktoum International Airport and much further from the city centre than DWTC. The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Expo 2020 Station, but a crew with cases of equipment usually comes by car and uses the paid parking. Show traffic adds time, so the call time moves earlier.

Some shows are split between DEC and DWTC. WHX, for example, runs a complimentary shuttle between the two venues on every show day. That works for visitors, but a crew with equipment should not move between venues mid-day. If you have stands or sessions in both, book a team for each.

Inside, distances are long: the WHX organisers describe DEC's halls as a linear layout, and crossing it with a camera, tripod and sound bag takes time. Plan the day hall by hall.

Badges, build-up and loading

• Badges. The crew is usually registered as contractors through the organiser's exhibitor services, by the deadline in the exhibitor manual.
• Build-up. A time-lapse of the stand being built is good material, but build-up areas usually require safety shoes and a high-visibility vest. Check the rules before the crew arrives.
• Loading. DEC has marshalling yards for trucks. A video crew does not need a truck slot, but it needs to know where to park and unload, and whether trolleys are allowed.
• Storage. Ask your stand builder for a lockable cupboard; the car park is a long walk away.
• Filming rules. Your own stand is yours to film. The aisles, other stands and official stages may need the organiser's permission.

What to film on your stand

Plan the shots around what you will publish. Most exhibitors need the stand before opening, without the crowd; product demos in close-up; short interviews with leadership and partners; visitors and meetings; talks, launches and signings; and vertical clips of 15–45 seconds posted while the show is running. What plays on the stand screens is a separate project, covered in exhibition stand videos.

How many videographers you need

For a single stand, we recommend two videographers: one for planned shots and interviews, the other for visitors, details and the unexpected. Large stands need more people, and three or more videographers work best with a production coordinator. More on crew size in how many cameras an event needs.

Sound in big halls

Large halls are loud and echo. The camera microphone records both, so interviews and vox pops need a separate sound recordist with wireless microphones and the right equipment. Use a meeting room on the stand if you have one, give each speaker a time slot, and test the hall during build-up.

Same-day clips

Expo City is a long drive from most offices in Dubai, so taking cards back to an edit suite costs hours. With an editor on site, footage goes from the cameras to the editor during the day, and short clips are ready by the evening. Give the editor a quiet corner and an internet connection that does not depend on the venue Wi-Fi.

What it costs

Our rates for event filming apply at DEC:

• Videographer: AED 3,500 for a half day (up to 6 hours on site, even if the event is shorter) or AED 4,500 for a full day (up to 12 hours).
• Sound recordist with all the equipment, for interviews and vox pops: AED 2,500 per day.
• Editor on site for same-day clips: AED 3,500 per day (up to 8 hours).
• Production coordinator for crews of three or more videographers: AED 3,500 per day.
• Travel: Expo City is in Dubai, so there is no travel fee.
• Editing is quoted separately, by the number and complexity of the videos.

These prices are approximate and exclude 5% VAT. Try the event price calculator with your hours and crew, and confirm the exact figure with our producer on WhatsApp.

Plan it now

Book the crew as soon as your stand plan is fixed, and send us:

• the show, hall and stand number;
• the days and hours you need, including build-up if you want it filmed;
• the talks, launches and meetings that must be filmed;
• what you want to receive and by when.

Why Fat Cat Media

We are a Dubai production company with our own crew, filming events since 2012. We know this site: we filmed Expo 2020 Dubai here, before it became Expo City. We have also filmed GITEX Global, and the World Future Energy Summit and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at ADNEC. See our exhibition videography page or send us your show and stand number on WhatsApp.