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 Value-Added Tax
 There is no VAT in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
 Music Rights
No royalties or fees are required to play music in your exhibit during a show.
If you wish to employ a band or a DJ, prior approval from show management is required.
 Garbage
While show management cleans the aisles for free, the exhibitor’s contractor is responsible for all waste generated during setup, teardown, and throughout the run of the trade show.
Show management may impose a fine for any uncollected waste.
Show organizers provide free daily cleaning services where aisles are vacuumed and garbage is picked up from bins located throughout the show floor.
 Smoking
Smoking is not allowed in exhibition halls. Attendees are free to smoke in designated areas outside the hall.
Although smoking is not allowed, many exhibitors still provide ashtrays inside their booths or in meeting rooms.
 Voltage
220 volts (European two-pin plug required).
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Safety
Complying with Dubai’s municipal safety regulations is the responsibility of the venue, and no outside certification agency is used. Organizers and exhibitors aren’t typically involved in the process unless highly flammable items are on display. In such cases, organizers will help exhibitors complete the required paperwork, procedures, and so on.
All exhibit designs must be approved prior to the show by the organizer. Double-deck designs must be submitted with structural calculations. Venues such as the Dubai World Trade Center publish manuals for exhibit-fitting, electrical, and safety regulations. Be sure to submit any special design or structural requests well in advance of the show date to obtain necessary approvals.
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General Facts and Tips
Dubai strongly promotes commerce and decidedly shuns red tape and strict regulations — especially when compared to U.S. and European venues.
The hotels in Dubai are chaotically busy. Hotels within the Dubai World Trade Center are almost always booked, so to get a hotel close to the venue, you’ll need to make reservations several months in advance.
Since Friday is a Muslim holy day, many stores are closed until after noon and some all day.
In 2009, phase one of Dubai Exhibition World at Jebel Ali Exhibition Center will open with 1.3 million square feet of exhibit space.
Outside the expo center, Dubai is a tourists’ paradise, with underwater hotels, indoor ski resorts, world-class shopping, adventure, and entertainment — including the Burj Al Arab, the world’s only seven-star hotel (the cheap rooms start at about $1,000 a night).
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Installation and Dismantle
There are no labor unions in the UAE. You can set up your booth or hire the contractor of your choice.
On-site labor is not usually available, so it’s a good idea to plan for any required assistance with contractors in advance.
Electrical power is supplied by the venue, and all power orders and installations must be done through the official show contractor. Before supplying any power, the venue checks your distribution board (supplied by the venue), all connections, and all other electrical work to make sure they are not overloaded and that power is distributed properly. The contractor handles all of these issues. If you do not have a contractor, you will need to hire an electrician to set up your electrical connections.
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Hospitality
In-booth hospitality is only common among large exhibitors. Catering issupplied for a fee by the venue. The use of outside caterers (recently prohibited in some expo centers) must be approved by the venue in advance.
Tea and coffee are the most
popular exhibit refreshments,
and are frequently served with
light snacks.
Serving alcohol in your exhibit is strictly prohibited. While it is served in neighboring licensed restaurants or bars outside the exhibition hall, alcohol consumption in public areas outside designated bars and restaurants is not allowed.
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Staff Attire
Business attire — suits, jackets, or dresses — is appropriate. Local exhibitors and attendees may dress in regional garb (some men wear dishdashas and headdresses, while some women wear black abayas), but foreigners are not required or even encouraged to do the same.
Women should avoid wearing short skirts or revealing clothes. Open-toed shoes are OK, but wearing a lot of makeup or flashy jewelry isn’t recommended.
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Greetings
Dubai is exceptionally diverse; almost all nationalities live there, so keep business etiquette simple.
The usual business greeting is a handshake (wait for a woman to offer her hand first). A polite “hello” or “good morning” is also fine.
Be careful of being too loud or flamboyant. Assume a mellow attitude when staffing your exhibit.
Getting right down to business or using first names isn’t recommended, especially when working with Pan-Arab nationals.
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Language
Arabic is the UAE’s official language, but English is spoken fluently throughout the business community.
Show management will offer to print your booth signage in Arabic if you are exhibiting in a shell scheme. While that is a welcome gesture, it’s unnecessary unless you’re targeting Arab nationals. Printing signs and other materials in English is sufficient.
Local staffers, while not strictly required, may be helpful with any cultural and language issues, and may increase your company’s regional credibility.
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Resources:
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, www.dcci.ae
Dubai World Trade Center, www.dwtc.com
Sharjah Expo Center, www.expo-centre.ae
The Airport Expo, www.dwtc.com/airportexpodubai
Jerry Kallman Sr., Tom Kallman, Kallman Worldwide, www.kallman.com
Waldwick, NJ
Lorraine Lorenzini, director international operations, Sparks, www.sparksonline.com Philadephia
Terri Morrison, president, Getting Through Customs, www.getcustoms.com Newtown Square, PA
Philip Soschinski, executive vice president, Expotechnik USA, www.expotechnik.com Atlanta
Steve Sind, president, Global Event Strategies, www.event-strategy.com Tucson, AZ
Jeannine Swan, president, Global Exhibit Management, www.globalexhibitmanagement.com Fort Worth, TX
Philippe Tissot, president, Exhibit in Europe, www.exhibitineurope.com Paris
Jori Wilmoth, manager, international services, Derse Inc., www.derse.com Milwaukee
Rami Taher, marketing manager, Top Gear Promotions LLC, www.tgpdubai.com Dubai, UAE
Anu Bhatnagar, project manager, International Expo-Consults LLC, www.iecdubai.com Dubai, UAE
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