CRAFT YARD
Exhibition Stand Design & Build in Dubai: The Complete Guide
Dubai hosts hundreds of trade shows a year — Gulfood, Arab Health, ADIPEC, GITEX and more. Here's what exhibitors need to know about costs, timelines, approvals and choosing the right contractor.
How much does an exhibition stand cost in Dubai?
Cost is driven by three things: size (a 3×3 m corner vs. a 400 m² pavilion), design complexity (shell-scheme upgrade vs. custom double-deck with hanging rigging) and materials and finishes. A simple custom stand starts at the lower end; premium builds with AV walls, meeting rooms and custom joinery scale up from there.
The biggest cost lever is who builds it. Builders with their own workshop — like Craft Yard — skip subcontractor margins on carpentry, printing and graphics, which is why in-house production is usually the most budget-friendly route. Ask for an itemised quote; most serious contractors will return one within 24–48 hours.
How long does design and build take?
A typical custom stand goes from design approval to show-ready in 2–4 weeks. Country pavilions and double-deck stands need 6–8 weeks. Work backwards from your show date:
What approvals do I need at DWTC, ADNEC or Expo City?
All major UAE venues require organiser and venue approval of stand drawings before build-up, plus contractor passes, insurance and — for double-deck or rigged stands — structural calculations. An experienced local builder handles these submissions for you; it should be included in the contract, not an extra.
How do I choose a stand contractor?
Five questions that separate production houses from middlemen:
- Do you produce in your own workshop, or subcontract?
- Can I visit the workshop and see my stand mid-production?
- Is venue approval and compliance included in the price?
- What happens to the stand after the show — storage and re-build for the next event?
- Can you show stands you've built for my show specifically?
Craft Yard answers yes to all five: our services span 3D design, printing and graphics, storage and re-build, and furniture rental — with everything produced in our Dubai workshop, across 700+ shows from Gulfood to the Dubai Airshow.