For those who are going to Dubai, UAE for the first time to attend an exhibition or travel, they must understand the UAE’s entry and exit policies and customs and taboos. What should I pay attention to when going to Dubai for an exhibition? The following is a guide to participating in Dubai exhibitions, which will detail Dubai hotel reservations, taxis, subways, and exhibition hall requirements. Please be sure to understand them before going to Dubai for an exhibition.
1. UAE Entry and Exit Notice
Chinese citizens holding a passport valid for more than 6 months can enter the country without a visa. No visa is required upon entry, and no fees are charged.
With this card, you can stay in the UAE for 30 days.
The holder of the card must undergo an entry iris test (commonly known as eye scanning) when entering the country, and will be granted entry permission if the test is passed.
After verifying that the passport and entry visa are correct, the immigration inspection office will stamp the entry stamp on the passport and then allow the person to enter.
Chinese Consulate General in Dubai:
Address: 8th Street, Umm Hurair1, Bur Dubai, POBOX 9348, Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00971-4-3944733 Fax: 00971-4-3952207
Email: chinaconsul_db_ae@mfa.gov.cn 24-hour consular protection hotline: 00971-4-3947588
If your passport is lost or you have any questions about personal/property safety, you can contact the consulate.
2. Exhibition Hall Address
Dubai World Trade Centre (off Sheikh Zayed Road) PO Box 9292, Dubai
3. Exhibitor Badge
Before departure, please check whether you have received the barcode of the admission pass by email. Please print it and bring it to the site. At the exhibition service counter, exchange your passport + business card + barcode for the admission pass. Exhibitor badges cannot be lent to others. If found, a fine of AED3000 will be imposed. In addition: For additional admission badges, changes to reserved admission badges or after the deadline/on-site 209.50 AED (+5% VAT), a total of 220 AED (including 5% VAT).
1AED = 2 RMB (for reference)
4. Exhibition Hall Service Information
1. For information on the exhibition hall (Dubai World Trade Center, UAE) services, restaurants, convenience stores, hotels, etc., please refer to the website:
2. The name of the Dubai World Trade Center Metro Station is “World Trade Centre” R22. The first train starts at 5 am and the last train is at 11 pm. You can buy a Nol Card on site.
3. You can download the Dubai Metro map directly from this link
4. If you need taxi service, you can call +971 4 208 0808 to book a taxi in advance.
5. You can also download apps: Careem or Uber app to book a taxi.
6. If you drive to the exhibition hall, please pay attention to the following parking lots, no reservation is required, first come first served:
A) Exhibition Street Parking: Located behind Halls 13 and 14, there are 1,160 parking spaces.
b) Sheikh Rashid Tower Parking: Located next to Pavilion 19, with 863 parking spaces.
C) Za’abeel Plaza Parking: Located in front of Pavilion 25, with 300 parking spaces.
d) Exhibition Plaza Parking: There are 150 parking spaces.
e) Arena Plaza Parking: There are 140 parking spaces.
7. Emirates Post, located in Concourse 2 opposite Hall 8, provides mailing services to exhibitors.
8. Fedex is located at the junction of Hall 3 and Hall 4. The office hours are from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday. 24-hour service hotline: 8004050.
9. First Aid Center: The conference provides first aid services at the exhibition reception next to Hall 5. Tel: 97143086541/ 3086199
V. Documents and items you need to bring
1. Documents: original passport (please make a copy of the first page and store it separately from the passport in case the original is lost. The copy can be used for reference. The passport must be valid after April 15, 2024); copy of the air ticket + hotel check-in form; original or copy of the invitation letter; international credit card that can be used abroad; go to the bank in advance to exchange cash for local use;
2. Checked luggage: 1 piece per person, the total length, width and height of each piece of luggage does not exceed 158 cm (luggage dimensions include any handles and wheels), and the total weight does not exceed 23 kg
3. *Extra Charge Baggage: Baggage over 23 kg and additional checked baggage will be charged an estimated fee of more than 80 yuan based on weight and number of pieces; if the luggage exceeds the above weight and size limits, additional fees will be charged based on actual conditions; if the promotional scroll (commonly known as the “cannon” by exhibitors) cannot be placed in the checked luggage, it will be counted as the second piece of checked luggage
4. * Unchecked luggage: Any fragile luggage, luggage exceeding 190×75×65 cm in length, width and height, or luggage weighing more than 32 kg will not be checked in.
5. Hand luggage: Each person is limited to 1 piece of hand luggage (impact size not exceeding 55×40×23 cm, weight not exceeding 8 kg) and 1 personal item (such as a handbag, laptop or briefcase, with impact size not exceeding 40×30×15 cm, weight not exceeding 4 kg). Hand luggage exceeding the limit must be checked in and counted in the checked luggage rules
6. Exhibition samples: Exhibitors who bring samples should prepare an INVOICE (the price on the invoice should not exceed USD 300) for customs clearance, and indicate the following words on the INVOIC to facilitate customs clearance: (Please try not to use cartons to pack exhibits, otherwise the customs inspection rate will reach more than 90%.
7. Please be sure to pack your exhibit luggage and personal items separately for easy retrieval
8. The cash limit for mainland outbound passengers is USD5,000 or equivalent foreign currency. Any amount exceeding this limit must be declared.
9. Temperature: Dubai has a subtropical climate in the Middle East. The temperature in October is about 26 degrees in the morning and evening, and the outdoor temperature during the day is about 30-35 degrees.
10. Power supply: The local voltage is 220 volts and uses a British standard socket (as shown in the right picture), which is different in size from that in China.
11. Foreign exchange: Dubai currency: DIRHAM (Dubai Dollar). Exchange rate: 1AED = 2 RMB (for reference) 1USD = 3.7AED (for reference only).
6. Dubai customs and taboos
1. When visiting the UAE, you are prohibited from photographing local women without permission.
2. During Ramadan in the UAE, tourists are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke in public places during the day.
3. It is not allowed to order pork products in public catering outlets.
4. Generally, Arab families eat on the floor and use their hands to eat. When visiting a place, it is best to follow local customs.
5. Some devout Muslims do not like to shake hands with women. If you need to shake hands in a social situation, wait for others to extend their hands first.
6. If you want to take photos of local people, ask for permission in advance.
7. Prohibited behaviors in public include: wearing miniskirts, bikinis, shorts or other tight and transparent clothing, losing temper, dancing, playing loud music, drinking in non-business areas, swearing, swimming naked and making obscene gestures. In addition, couples kissing, holding hands or hugging in public will also be punished or even detained.
8. The UAE is an Islamic country, and Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and drinking alcohol. Foreigners can buy alcohol for their own consumption in designated hotels and shops.
9. Every Muslim must pray five times a day, whether in the office, at home or on the plane. Praying is a very serious matter for Muslims, and others are not allowed to talk to them, let alone joke with them.
VII. Intellectual Property Issues
1. Before exhibitors depart, please check whether the samples, pictures and specimens they bring have any intellectual property rights issues, and strictly prevent products that infringe intellectual property rights from being exhibited.
2. Bring along product intellectual property certificates and documents.
3. Unknown persons should be prohibited from taking photos of samples.
4. If an intellectual property dispute arises, the safest way is to remove the sample first to avoid conflict, otherwise the nature of the matter will change and may even lead to criminal proceedings.
5. If someone claiming to be a lawyer or rights holder accuses your product of infringement and asks you to sign some documents, please be cautious.
6. In the event that a product infringes upon copyright, law enforcement officers cannot interfere with the performance of their official duties when they seize the infringing products in accordance with the law.
8. Notes on Standard Stall Arrangement
The volume of the on-site audio equipment at the booth shall not exceed 70 decibels. If it exceeds the regulations, the organizer has the right to cut off the power supply of the exhibitor. The manufacturer’s logo, lighting, and other projection equipment shall not affect the adjacent booths and shall not be used outside the booth (for example, exhibitors are not allowed to project the logo onto the walls or ceiling of the exhibition hall). Without the permission of the conference, it is prohibited to use subwoofer systems and strobe lighting equipment.
On the morning of the opening ceremony, the hall will be closed to all until 3 hours before the opening of the show for security checks. After the security check, exhibitors can enter through the designated entrances with their admission badges. The designated entrances will be notified during the exhibition setup. All entry and exit times before the opening ceremony are determined by Dubai Police.
The space around the exhibition stand shall not be used for the storage of empty crates, cartons, boxes or packaging materials. The Organiser reserves the right to remove/dispose of any empty crates, cartons, boxes or packaging materials left in the exhibition hall.
The rights and costs of any cartons, boxes and/or packaging materials behind the stand shall be borne by the exhibitor.
Power supply: The exhibition hall uses single-phase 240V 50Hz & three-phase 380V 50 Hz.
The power supply will start at 12:00 pm and will be stopped 30 minutes after the end of the exhibition.
Any promotional activities and distribution of advertising leaflets by exhibitors are limited to their own booths and must not occupy public areas.
Exhibitors are requested to take valuable exhibits or articles back to the hotel after the exhibition. The organizer will provide daily security work, but the exhibition will not be responsible for any compensation for the loss or damage of exhibits.
The conference only provides cleaning for public areas of the exhibition hall, and cleaning inside the booths is not included in the exhibition fee.
During the booth dismantling period, after all garbage materials in the booth area are cleared, the conference will require the exhibitor or the designated agent construction and decoration company to fill out the confirmation letter of no damage issued by the conference (if there is damage, please mark it specially). If the conference requires the exhibitor to pay the fine for the damage of related materials later, the exhibitor shall not have the right to refuse if the confirmation letter is not signed.