Expo City Dubai Transport
Chauffeur transfers to Expo City Dubai and the Dubai Exhibition Centre from DXB, DWC, Downtown and the Marina, with a car waiting for the long drive back.
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Expo City Dubai transport with Tour Transfer means a chauffeur-driven car from your hotel, office or the airport to the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) or any Expo City venue, and back when you’re done. Expo City sits next to Al Maktoum International (DWC), about 15 minutes away, and about 30 minutes from Downtown. From Dubai International (DXB) it’s roughly 40 km, or 35–45 minutes. It’s part of our exhibition and conference transport service.
Expo City is the former Expo 2020 site, now a permanent district with the Dubai Exhibition Centre at its heart. From December 2026 it’s also the home of GITEX Global.
Reviewed by Arshad Hussain, chauffeur operations specialist, dubai · Updated
How long does it take to get to Expo City?
Expo City is on the southern edge of Dubai, next to DWC, reached by Expo Road (E77), which connects to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311). Drive times outside rush hour:
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Al Maktoum International (DWC) | Close by | About 15 minutes |
| Dubai Marina and JLT | Roughly 20 km | About 20–30 minutes |
| Downtown Dubai | About 30 minutes | |
| Dubai International (DXB) | About 40 km | About 35–45 minutes |
Add time in the morning and evening peaks, and on the opening day of a big show at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. For delegates flying in for a show, landing at DWC puts you closest; see DWC to Dubai for the airport side.
Dropping off at the Dubai Exhibition Centre
The Dubai Exhibition Centre has two drop-off points, the North Drop-off and the South Drop-off, both reached from Boulevard 2020 Street. The halls are grouped as North Halls and South Halls, so tell us your hall when you book and the chauffeur heads for the closer drop-off.
What else to know:
Parking
the DEC has more than 2,300 on-site spaces in zones P1 to P5, with free shuttles from the parking zones to the halls. Valet runs only for some events. With a chauffeur, you skip all of it: the car drops you at the door and waits.
Metro
Expo 2020 station, at the end of the Red Line, is a few minutes’ walk from the DEC.
Building work
the DEC finished the first phase of its expansion in early 2026, reaching 140,000 square metres, with further phases planned through 2031. Check the organiser’s latest drop-off map before each show; our chauffeurs do.
Our guide on how to get to Expo City Dubai compares car, Metro and taxi in more detail.
Shows and events at Expo City
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| GITEX Global 2026 | 7–11 December 2026 (expo 8–11 December) | Dubai Exhibition Centre |
| World Health Expo (WHX Dubai) 2027 | 25–28 January 2027 | Dubai Exhibition Centre and DWTC |
| Gulfood 2027 | 15–19 March 2027 | Dubai Exhibition Centre and DWTC |
| Dubai Airshow 2027 | 15–19 November 2027 | Dubai Airshow site at DWC, close by |
GITEX week is the busiest. The show moved from Dubai World Trade Centre, where the 2025 edition was held, so hotel choice and morning drive times need rethinking. The GITEX Global transport guide covers hotel choice and daily transfers.
Outside show weeks, Expo City runs its own attractions, such as the Terra and Vision pavilions and the Expo 2020 Museum. We run half-day and full-day hires for visitors who want the car to wait while they look around.
Exhibitor teams and delegate groups
A lot of show traffic to Expo City is teams rather than individuals. A stand crew of six with laptops and display kit fits one Mercedes V-Class; eight people fit a Toyota HiAce VIP. Larger teams travel in two vans on the same departure. Our van rental with driver page lists seats and luggage for every van.
For build-up days, when stand teams start early and finish late, we set the van timetable around the organiser’s move-in hours rather than the show’s opening times. Freight and stand materials go through the organiser’s official freight forwarder; we carry people and hand luggage.
What is the best way to get to Expo City Dubai?
For a show day or a business meeting, a pre-booked car is the best way: door to door, no parking, and a car waiting at the end. The Metro is the cheapest; the Red Line runs straight to Expo 2020 station.
| Chauffeur car | Metro | Taxi or ride-hailing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Downtown | About 30 minutes, door to door | Red Line to Expo 2020 station, slower end to end | About 30 minutes, meter plus Salik |
| Luggage and samples | Room in the car or van | Hard at rush hour | Depends on the car |
| Getting back at night | Car waiting | Last-train timings apply | Queue with everyone else |
| Best for | Exhibitors, VIPs, groups | Solo visitors travelling light | One-way trips off-peak |
The return trip is the real reason to book. Expo City is a long way from the hotels in central Dubai, and when a big show closes, thousands of people want a ride at the same time. A car on hourly hire, or a pre-booked return pickup at an agreed drop-off point, gets you out first.
Expo City Dubai Transport: frequently asked questions
Yes. Expo City’s public areas are open without tickets, and parking for Expo City visitors is free. Some attractions need a paid ticket, and shows at the Dubai Exhibition Centre need a badge or ticket from the organiser.
About 40 km from Dubai International (DXB), or 35–45 minutes by car outside rush hour. Al Maktoum International (DWC) is much closer, about 15 minutes away. We pick up at both airports and drive straight to the venue.
Yes. Expo 2020 station is the last stop on the Red Line, a few minutes’ walk from the Dubai Exhibition Centre. It’s a good option if you’re travelling light; with luggage, samples or a group, a car is easier.
Yes. We book morning pickups from each hotel and evening returns for every day of the show, in sedans for individuals and vans for teams. Cars can stay on hourly hire if your schedule moves around.
Book your chauffeur
Send your pickup, drop-off, date and time. We reply with a fixed, all-inclusive price, usually within minutes, 24 hours a day.