DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist — Seamless Middle East 2026

February 15, 2026

Seamless Middle East 2026 — scale, dates and why DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist rules matter

DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist should be the first document every exhibitor opens when planning for Seamless Middle East 2026. The event runs 12–14 May 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), spans multiple halls, and expects ~750 exhibitors and ~25,000 visitors from fintech, retail and payments sectors. For live-payment demos and PoS rigs, technical readiness is higher-stakes: one failed demo can cost leads, relationships and on-site reputation.

DWTC critical technical regulations and hard deadlines exhibitors must know — DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist

DWTC enforces strict technical regulations and hard cutoffs. Missing these triggers surcharges, denied access or on-site rework.

Height limits & structural approvals: standard space-only height limit is 4.0 m. Any structure exceeding 4.0 m requires certified structural calculations and DWTC approval prior to build submission.
Transparency rules: aisle-facing walls over certain heights must comply with visibility/transparency requirements — include these in submissions early to avoid redesigns.
Rigging: rigging requires an approved Rigging Permit with certified drawings. DWTC’s preferred ordering window is ~30 days prior; projected rigging cutoff is ~12 April 2026. Note grid/load restrictions and point-loading limits when planning banners or lighting trusses.
Electrical & internet: main power, 24‑hour continuous power (servers/fridges) and wired internet orders typically close ~21 days before build — projected cutoff ~21 April 2026. Late or on-site orders commonly incur 20–50% surcharges.
Logistics & access: all freight must use booked loading-bay slots; contractors need pre-approved badges. Failure to book slots or badges risks access denial or delays.
Compliance & penalties: RAMS submissions, approved contractors and site housekeeping rules apply. Waste or dirty-site penalties are commonly enforced (examples: AED 500–2,000 depending on offence).

Top exhibitor pain points at DWTC tech shows — real risks that kill ROI

Post-show feedback from DWTC tech and fintech exhibitors consistently highlights failures that directly erode ROI:

Live-demo failures: relying on venue Wi‑Fi or under-specified wireless causes demo dropouts. Payments hardware and PoS need predictable bandwidth and low latency — hardlines or redundant circuits are essential.
Hidden electrical costs: exhibitors assume a single socket covers all costs. DWTC charges for connection points, total consumption and 24‑hour feeds separately — misunderstanding this can produce 20–50% late surcharges.
On-site assembly rework: outsourced builders without warehouse pre-assembly produce fit issues and late fixes, extending install time and risking missed handover windows.
Logistics bottlenecks: missed delivery slots and long loading-bay waits happen when staging and labeling aren’t coordinated — delays cascade into compressed install time and overtime charges.

Pre-event technical checklist (timeline + who-does-what) — 8 steps to avoid fines — DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist

Use this 8-step timeline to allocate responsibilities and close technical risk gaps.

12 weeks out — Design finalisation
Who: Design team / Burdak PM. Actions: finalise stand design; submit space-only structural docs if >4.0 m. We provide structural calculations from our in-house engineers where needed.
8–6 weeks out — Rigging & MEP lock
Who: Production / Rigging vendor. Actions: lock rigging points, submit banner/rigging drawings and load calculations. Burdak coordinates rigging permit paperwork and grid checks.
6–5 weeks out — Mock-up & integration
Who: Fabrication & AV leads. Actions: perform a full-scale warehouse mock-up; test AV, wired internet and PoS integration. We deliver full-scale 3D mockups and dry-runs in our warehouse.
4 weeks out (by ~21 Apr) — Place main orders
Who: Logistics & Client. Actions: place main electrical, 24‑hour power and wired internet orders. Confirm quotas to avoid late-order surcharges (projected cutoff ~21 April).
3 weeks out — Badge & RAMS submission
Who: Contractor admin / Client. Actions: submit RAMS, order contractor badges and confirm approved contractors for DWTC access.
2 weeks out — Freight & delivery windows
Who: Logistics / Burdak transport. Actions: confirm freight arrival windows and booked loading-bay slots; label & pack per DWTC delivery rules. We manage booking and transport.
1 week out — Crew & final checks
Who: On-site team / PM. Actions: confirm crew badges, on-site contacts, final RAMS sign-off and a last warehouse dry-run if needed.
Pre-assembly — Warehouse mock-up
Who: Fabrication team. Actions: full-scale mock-up, fit-checks, label & load per DWTC slots. Burdak’s pre-assembly eliminates unexpected on-site fixes.

Why Burdak eliminates these risks — services, proof and quick next steps — DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist

We specialise in closing the specific gaps DWTC exhibitors encounter. Our approach is practical and proven.

Core capabilities

In-house CNC & fabrication: tight tolerances and rapid iteration reduce structural fixes on-site.
Full-scale warehouse mock-ups & 3D mockups: dry-runs that validate fit, MEP routing and AV integration before shipping to site.
24–48h quoting & assigned PM: fast decisions with a single point of responsibility and clear escalation.
On-site installation teams & own transport: coordinated delivery windows and labour to match booked loading-bay slots.
RAMS and MEP coordination: we prepare submissions and manage DWTC approvals to avoid access denial or penalties.

Concrete benefits

Eliminate last-minute structural fixes by validating designs in our warehouse.
Reduce on-site install time and overtime charges through pre-labelling and staging.
Prevent late-order surcharges by advising and placing electrical/internet/rigging orders within DWTC windows.
Avoid demo failures: wired internet and AV integrations are tested end-to-end during the mock-up phase.

Short case proof

An anonymised DWTC payments stand we delivered: pre-assembly and full AV integration in our warehouse avoided overnight rework at the venue, prevented late electrical orders and reduced last-minute surcharges by 20%. The client kept three scheduled live demos with zero downtime and captured higher-quality leads.

Action — exact services to order now

Book a full-scale mock-up slot with Burdak’s warehouse (allow 2–3 weeks lead time).
Request an electrical quota check and have us place the main and 24‑hour power orders by ~21 April.
Submit rigging drawings via Burdak for permit filing (recommended by ~12 April).
Send RAMS and contractor details for review — we can fast-track DWTC approvals.
Confirm transport and loading-bay booking with our logistics team.

Contact: Ask for an assigned PM, a 24–48h quote and a mock-up booking checklist. We will provide a lead-time matrix aligned to DWTC deadlines.

FAQ — DWTC exhibitor AV and power checklist

Q: What is the critical height limit at DWTC? A: Standard space-only height is 4.0 m. Structures above require certified structural calculations and prior approval.
Q: When are rigging and electrical cutoffs? A: Projected rigging cutoff ~12 Apr 2026. Main electrical and wired internet cutoffs ~21 Apr 2026. Late orders often carry 20–50% surcharges.
Q: Do I need to order 24‑hour power separately? A: Yes — continuous feeds for servers/fridges must be ordered as a separate service from DWTC.
Q: How do I avoid demo downtime from Wi‑Fi issues? A: Use wired internet circuits, redundant links and full AV rehearsals in a warehouse mock-up. We test payment hardware with PoS rigs before site.
Q: What are typical fines for site housekeeping? A: Waste or dirty-site penalties range from AED 500–2,000, depending on the breach.

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