Planning your trip around the UAE Yearly Events is one of the smartest ways to experience the country’s energy, culture, and business opportunities. From mega trade shows and fintech summits to cultural festivals, fashion weeks, and global sporting spectacles, the UAE offers a packed calendar every month. Whether you are a tourist seeking family attractions, a student looking for inspiration, or a Nepali professional exploring business and career prospects, these recurring events open doors to networking, learning, and unforgettable experiences.
A practical, evergreen calendar of the UAE’s recurring events—trade, fintech, tech, culture, sport, and family festivals—listed by typical month (no exact dates). Need tickets, hotels, or visa support? WhatsApp: +971 58 502 0375
Last updated: 30 August 2025
January
- Dubai Marathon (Dubai) — 42K/10K/4K; big running-club appeal.
- 1 Billion Followers Summit (Dubai) — creator economy, brand partnerships, content monetisation.
- Al Hosn Festival (Abu Dhabi) — heritage arts & crafts around Qasr Al Hosn.
- Xposure Photography Festival (Sharjah) — exhibitions, talks, workshops for photographers & media students.
Why this month matters for Nepali/international audiences:
- Creators: 1BFS is ideal for influencers, agencies, and media startups seeking GCC brand deals.
- Culture: Heritage & photo festivals are perfect for student trips and family travel.
Suggested bundle: 1BFS tickets + hotel (SZR/Trade Centre) + flights + optional Dubai city tour.
February
- World Health Expo (WHX) Dubai — formerly Arab Health — the region’s flagship healthcare expo & congress (from 2026 hosted across DEC/DWTC).
- World Governments Summit (Dubai) — policy, innovation, gov-tech & climate dialogues.
- Gulfood (Dubai) — the world’s largest annual F&B sourcing show.
- UAE Tour (Nationwide) — UCI WorldTour cycling stage race.
- Sikka Art & Design Festival (Dubai) — emerging artists & designers in Al Fahidi.
- Dubai International Boat Show (Dubai) — yachting, charters, marine tech.
- IDEX & NAVDEX (Abu Dhabi, biennial) — defence & naval (B2G/B2B; odd-year cycle).
- Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (Sharjah) — founders, investors, ecosystem networking.
Why this month matters:
- Healthcare careers & B2B: WHX Dubai (ex-Arab Health) is prime for placements, partnerships, and distributorships.
- Exporters (e.g., Nepal): Gulfood is the best springboard for tea, spices, coffee, snacks, and agrifood.
- Startups: SEF connections + WGS insights = policy awareness + partnerships.
Suggested bundle: WHX or Gulfood visitor pass + hotel (DWTC/Expo City areas) + airport transfers + Global Village evening.
March–April
- Art Dubai (Dubai) — the region’s flagship art fair with strong global galleries.
- Dubai World Cup (Horse Racing, Dubai) — marquee race day at Meydan; corporate hospitality hotspot.
- Dubai Food Festival (Dubai) — citywide dining experiences.
Why this window matters:
- Creative economy: Art Dubai & DFF fuel collabs for designers, chefs, and content creators.
- MICE & incentives: Race-day hospitality is a powerful client-engagement tool.
Suggested bundle: Art Dubai multi-day pass + hotel (DIFC/Jumeirah) + Old Dubai culture walk.
May
- Arabian Travel Market – ATM (Dubai) — top B2B travel show for tourism boards, DMCs, airlines, and tour operators.
- Seamless Middle East (Dubai) — fintech, payments, e-commerce, identity & retail tech.
- GISEC Global (Dubai) — cybersecurity expo & conference.
- Dubai FinTech Summit (Dubai) — banks, regulators, remittances, digital assets & open finance.
Why this month matters:
- Nepal tourism & trekking: ATM unlocks GCC partnerships, pilgrimage, and summer-escape itineraries.
- Remittance & fintech: Seamless/DFS are prime for PSPs, wallets, and cross-border products relevant to Nepali workers abroad.
Suggested bundle: ATM trade badge + hotel (Trade Centre) + Expo City add-on + optional Abu Dhabi day trip.
June–August
- Dubai Summer Surprises – DSS (Dubai) — citywide retail & entertainment season with big offers and family shows.
- Indoor sports & community runs (Dubai) — summer fitness activations across malls & arenas.
Why this window matters:
- Budget family travel: Lower hotel rates + mall entertainment + theme parks.
- Student groups: Summer language courses, museum programs, and campus tours.
Suggested bundle: 4-night family with hotel near Dubai Mall + theme-park pass + airport transfers.
September
- Dubai Fashion Week (SS) — regional & international designers; buyers and media attend.
Why this month matters:
- Design & apparel SMEs: Source buyers, stylists, and photo/video collaborators.
Suggested bundle: DFW show access + studio shoot day + hotel (d3/DIFC).
October
- GITEX GLOBAL (Dubai) — mega tech: AI, cloud, cybersecurity, gov-tech.
- Expand North Star (Dubai) — startup & investor show (runs alongside GITEX).
- Web3/Blockchain weeks (Dubai) — conferences and side events across the month.
- Global Village opens (Dubai) — multicultural pavilions, food, and shows (season runs to spring).
Why this month matters:
- Startups & IT services: Fundraising, enterprise sales, and channel partnerships peak here.
- Creators & families: Global Village content + food trails perform great on social.
Suggested bundle: GITEX/Startups multi-day pass + hotel (Dubai Harbour/DWTC) + investor mixers.
November
- Dubai Fitness Challenge – DFC (Dubai) — “30×30” citywide fitness month, with mass Dubai Ride/Run days.
- Dubai Design Week (Dubai) — installations, Downtown Design fair, talks & awards.
- Abu Dhabi Art (Abu Dhabi) — fair at Manarat Al Saadiyat + public programmes.
- ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi) — one of the world’s largest energy exhibitions.
- Gulfood Manufacturing (Dubai) — processing, packaging, ingredients & supply chain.
- Sharjah International Book Fair – SIBF (Sharjah) — one of the world’s biggest book fairs.
- Abu Dhabi Finance Week incl. FinTech Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi) — finance & fintech leaders week.
- Dubai Airshow (Dubai, biennial) — aviation, aerospace, defence & flying displays.
Why this month matters:
- Investors & energy: ADIPEC + ADFW bring global capital and industrial buyers together.
- Design & books: Great for students, publishers, and creative SMEs from Nepal/South Asia.
- Manufacturing: Food factories and packaging suppliers can secure GCC distribution.
Suggested bundle: Design Week → Abu Dhabi Art combo + hotel split (d3 / Saadiyat) + inter-city transfers.
December
- Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Abu Dhabi) — F1 season finale at Yas Marina.
- Dubai Shopping Festival – DSF (citywide) — kicks off in December and runs into January.
Why this month matters:
- Premium hospitality: F1 is ideal for incentive groups and high-value clients.
- Family value: DSF delivers mega deals, fireworks, concerts, and malls galore.
Suggested bundle: F1 or DSF with Yas Island / Downtown hotel + theme-park or desert safari add-ons.
Ready to plan? We arrange tickets + hotel + flights for individuals, teams, and student groups.
Tell us your month, event type, budget range, and rooming (single/twin/triple).
Visas & Planning Basics for UAE Yearly Events
- Lead time: For big trade shows (tech, fintech, energy, healthcare), start planning 3–6 months in advance for better hotel blocks and airfares.
- Visas: Most South Asian passports—including Nepal—require a UAE visit visa via airlines, hotels, or licensed agents. Requirements vary by nationality; allow buffer time.
- Where to stay: For DWTC events, consider SZR/Trade Centre; for Dubai Harbour events, Dubai Marina/JBR; for Yas events, Yas or Saadiyat.
- Seasonality: Outdoor festivals cluster from October–April; summer (Jun–Aug) is best for mall-based entertainment and price-friendly family trips.
Need a custom letter for your employer or school confirming your event trip? We can draft it with confirmed bookings.
Browse all events: Event archive
Plan-Your-Month at a Glance
| Month | Top recurring events (examples) |
|---|---|
| January | Dubai Marathon · 1 Billion Followers · Al Hosn · Xposure |
| February | WHX Dubai (formerly Arab Health) · World Governments Summit · Gulfood · UAE Tour · Sikka · Boat Show · IDEX/NAVDEX · SEF |
| March–April | Art Dubai · Dubai World Cup · Dubai Food Festival |
| May | ATM · Seamless · GISEC · Dubai FinTech Summit |
| June–August | Dubai Summer Surprises · Indoor fitness activations |
| September | Dubai Fashion Week (SS) |
| October | GITEX GLOBAL · Expand North Star · Web3 weeks · Global Village opens |
| November | Dubai Fitness Challenge · Dubai Design Week · Abu Dhabi Art · ADIPEC · Gulfood Manufacturing · SIBF · Abu Dhabi Finance Week · Dubai Airshow (biennial) |
| December | F1 Abu Dhabi GP · Dubai Shopping Festival begins |
FAQ
- Do these events always happen in the same month?
- Yes, most of them follow a consistent month window (e.g., WHX Dubai & Gulfood in Feb, GITEX in Oct). Exact days can shift slightly each year.
- Can you help with tickets, hotel and flights?
- Absolutely. Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll share packages for your month, budget, and group size.
- Which months are best for families on a budget?
- June–August (DSS deals, indoor parks) and December–January (DSF sales) are popular for value seekers.
- What’s best for Nepali SMEs and professionals?
- Gulfood (F&B), Arabian Travel Market (tourism), Seamless/Dubai FinTech Summit (payments & remittances), GITEX (IT services), World Health Expo Dubai (formerly Arab Health) (healthcare), ADIPEC (energy).
- Can students or creators get value from these trips?
- Yes—Xposure, Sikka, Dubai Design Week, Art Dubai, and Global Village are ideal for portfolios, case studies, and content creation.
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