Navigating Gulfood 2026: Dual-Venue Build Strategies

As Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai, we at Burdak Technical Services advise exhibitors to plan for dual-venue operations early. Gulfood 2026 (26–30 January) expands across DWTC and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), creating scale and complexity—this guide gives technical, logistical and approval-focused strategies to keep your stand build on-time and compliant.

Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai — Quick event brief & scale — what every exhibitor must know

One‑paragraph summary

Gulfood 2026 runs 26–30 January 2026 and, for the first time, operates across two sites: the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City. Organisers project 8,500+ exhibitors from 195+ countries and trade attendance north of 100,000. The addition of DEC adds roughly +140,000 sqm, taking total usable exhibition space to over 280,000 sqm.

Key numbers at a glance

• Dates: 26–30 January 2026
• Exhibitors: 8,500+ from 195+ countries
• Trade visitors: 100,000+
• Space: DWTC + DEC (total >280,000 sqm; DEC adds ~140,000 sqm)

Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai — The dual-venue operational challenge — logistics, staffing, and stock management

Travel and time costs between DWTC and DEC

Expect a one‑way transfer time of 40–50 minutes between DWTC and DEC depending on traffic and shuttle schedules. Options:

• Dedicated event shuttles (book early — slots fill fast)
• Metro plus last-mile taxis for smaller teams
• Private transfers for critical runs (higher cost but reliable)

Staffing model: duplicate vs rotate

Decide between duplicating core roles at each venue or rotating teams. Guidance:

• Duplicate teams for high-traffic stands or simultaneous activations — avoids travel downtime but doubles labour cost.
• Rotating teams for smaller or lower-traffic stands — reduces labour spend but requires tight shift handovers and contingency stock.
• Use a small core crew on-site (client interface) and a roaming technical team for urgent issues.

Stock management and storage

Maintain separate buffer stock at each venue where possible. Options:

• Pre-position non-perishables at venue-approved storage — book courier windows in advance.
• Use local fulfilment partners for sample replenishment to avoid cross-venue transfer time.
• Label and kit items for quick transfer between venues when necessary.

Hidden costs to budget for

• Duplicated graphics and branding for two sites
• Extra transport runs and bonded courier fees
• On-site labour overtime due to delayed approvals
• Shuttle or private transfer charges for staff and critical freight

Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai — DWTC & DEC technical rules that break schedules — height, double-deck approvals and the 50% rule

Concrete venue rules you must know

• Single-storey height cap: commonly 4.0m without special approval.
• Double-deck stands: classed as Complex Structures — typically limited to 6.0m standard; up to 8.0m only with explicit venue approval.
• Complex Structure requirements: pre-submitted structural calculations, signed RAMS, and a design review fee (typical review fees AED 1,000–2,000+).
• Rigging & load limits: must be ordered via venue-approved contractors; independent rigging is not permitted.
• Wall openness (50% rule): long, solid walls often trigger a requirement to maintain 50% openness to aisles—failure to comply can lead to on-site reworks.

Timeline and penalties

• Structural submissions: ~8 weeks before build-in for Complex Structures.
• Design approvals: 4–6 weeks before event for standard approvals.
• Fees & penalties: expedited reviews or at-door rectifications incur charges and potential delays; non-compliant builds risk forced modification or denied upper decks.

Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai — How Burdak’s in-house fabrication + full-scale mock-up removes risk (practical solutions)

In-house joinery, CNC precision and controlled quality

We operate full in-house fabrication, including CNC routing and certified joinery. That control delivers:

• Consistent production that matches the structural calculations we supply.
• Fewer surprises at venue build due to off-site quality control.

Full-scale warehouse mock-up

Our full-scale 3D mock-ups and pre-assembly validate double-deck geometry, sight-lines and the 50% wall rule before freight leaves the warehouse. Benefits:

• Eliminates last-minute on-site rework and costly change orders.
• Proves that the design is producible and that structural details align with calculations.

RAMS & permit-ready documentation

We pre-prepare structural reports, method statements and coordination packs and submit directly to DWTC/DEC technical teams where allowed. This reduces review cycles and helps secure approvals earlier.

Quantified benefits

• Typical medium stand on-site build-time cut from 12–24 hours to 6–10 hours when using pre-assembled modules.
• Lowered risk of denied upper decks through validated mock-ups and accurate structural calculations.
• Contingency via staged transport: we schedule multi-leg deliveries to both DWTC and DEC to minimise cross-venue exposure.

Gulfood exhibition stand builders Dubai — Practical exhibitor checklist & 8-week timeline to guarantee approval and on-time build

8‑week, week-by-week checklist

• Week 8: Final design sign-off; confirm floorplan allocation and submit structural intent if double-deck.
• Week 7: Submit formal structural calculations and RAMS for Complex Structures.
• Week 6: Receive design review comments; book transport and courier windows; order rigging through venue contractor.
• Week 5: Full-scale mock-up and client approval in warehouse; finalise AV kit and lighting.
• Week 4: Submit final drawings and permit-ready documents; lock in on-site labour schedule.
• Week 3: Pack and stage pre-assembled modules for transport; confirm handover time slots at DWTC/DEC.
• Week 2: Deliver initial modules to venue storage; conduct final checks and deliver client briefing pack.
• Week 1 / Build-in: On-site assembly (reduced to 6–10 hours for medium stands if pre-assembled); final QA and stand handover.

Procurement checklist

• AV and lighting suppliers booked with delivery times
• Rigging ordered via venue-approved contractor
• Courier windows and bonded freight slots confirmed
• On-site labour roster and contingency overtime budget
• Stand handover documentation and contact list

Five questions to ask your stand-builder

• Do you offer a full-scale mock-up guarantee and can you show previous examples?
• Is the fabrication done in-house (CNC/joinery) or outsourced?
• Who owns the RAMS and structural submissions — will you submit on our behalf?
• Do you have documented double-deck experience at DWTC/DEC?
• Can you support cross-venue logistics and staged deliveries for DWTC and DEC?

FAQ

• Q: What are the approval deadlines for complex stands?
  A: Structural calculations should be submitted ~8 weeks before build-in; design approvals 4–6 weeks prior.
• Q: What is the single-storey height limit?
  A: Typically 4.0m without special approval.
• Q: How long between DWTC and DEC?
  A: Plan for 40–50 minutes transfer time; use shuttles or private transfers for critical runs.
• Q: How much can on-site build time be reduced?
  A: With Burdak pre-assembly, medium stands typically drop from 12–24h to 6–10h.
• Q: What fees should we expect for complex structure review?
  A: Design review fees are commonly AED 1,000–2,000+, plus possible engineering charges.

For Gulfood 2026, the dual‑venue reality raises the bar on planning and technical compliance. We at Burdak Technical Services combine in-house fabrication, 3D/full-scale mock-ups, and permit-ready documentation to reduce cost, risk and last-minute surprises. Contact us early to lock design, submissions and staged logistics for a compliant, stress‑free build.