From 7 December 2026 to 4 February 2027, five tech shows take place in the Gulf: GITEX Global and Expand North Star in Dubai in December, then Web Summit Qatar in Doha, COMEX in Muscat and STEP in Dubai around the turn of February. Two windows emerge, with overlaps to plan for. Dates, venues and audiences, based on the organisers’ websites.
Early December: GITEX week in Dubai
GITEX Global begins on 7 December with a summit day at the Sheikh Maktoum Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre. The exhibition follows from 8 to 11 December, but at a different site: the Dubai Exhibition Centre, at Expo City Dubai, so you need to plan for the journey between the two venues. The show also announces a separate programme, called Techcation, from 4 to 14 December. As of 12 November 2026, the home page displayed neither prices nor attendance figures for the edition.
From 8 to 10 December, the same complex hosts Expand North Star, the startup and investor show associated with GITEX. This year, the two events come together at Expo City. The programme lists speakers from Antler, Airwallex, Startup Genome and Fidelity Investments, among others. The Supernova 0X competition has 60 young companies pitching for a total of $115,000 in prizes, awarded without any equity stake. Tickets are sold through the GITEX portal.
Late January and early February: three shows in five days
The second window is busier. Web Summit Qatar returns to Doha from 31 January to 3 February 2027. The website, which does not yet specify the exact venue, already offers applications to the startup programme and media accreditation requests.
In Muscat, COMEX occupies the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre from 1 to 4 February, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Presented by its organisers as the oldest technology exhibition in the Middle East, it is organised into five ecosystems: digital government, enterprise, startups, gaming and esports, banking and fintech. Thematic zones also cover cybersecurity, space, drones and digital cities. The 2025 edition reportedly attracted more than 90,000 visitors and 438 participating entities, for $306 million in transactions, according to the website.
Finally, on 3 and 4 February, STEP Dubai sets up at Dubai Internet City. Without figures specific to 2027, the organiser cites 8,000 participants, 300 startups and more than 200 investors a year, across all editions combined, since STEP is also held in San Francisco. The format is more compact than that of GITEX and focused on bringing startups and investors together.
Combine or choose: what the dates allow
In December, the schedule is simple: a single trip covers GITEX and Expand North Star, which share the Expo City site for three days. Only the 7 December summit takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In early February, choices have to be made. COMEX almost entirely overlaps with Web Summit Qatar, and Doha’s last day coincides with the opening of STEP in Dubai. A visitor can do Doha until 2 February and then Dubai, but not all three shows in full. The choice depends on the objective:
- meeting international investors: Web Summit Qatar or STEP;
- selling to government bodies or banks: COMEX, with its government and fintech ecosystems;
- exhibiting a solution at scale: GITEX, in December.
Before booking
None of the pages consulted displayed a visitor price for GITEX, STEP or COMEX: prices are available through the ticketing portals or from the organisers. The attendance figures cited are self-reported.
All the dates of the season, Gulf included, are gathered on the page where you can see the full calendar. For media covering these shows, a form is available to request accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dates of Web Summit Qatar 2027?
Web Summit Qatar takes place in Doha from 31 January to 3 February 2027.
Which Gulf tech shows overlap in February 2027?
COMEX, in Muscat from 1 to 4 February, overlaps with Web Summit Qatar (31 January-3 February) and STEP Dubai (3-4 February). Web Summit Qatar and STEP share the day of 3 February.
Where is Expand North Star 2026 held?
At Expo City Dubai, from 8 to 10 December 2026, on the same site as the GITEX Global exhibition.
Sources
- GITEX Global 2026, 7-11 December, Dubai — GITEX Global (DWTC), 2026-11-12
- Expand North Star 2026, 8-10 December — Expand North Star (DWTC), 2026-11-12
- Web Summit Qatar 2027 — Web Summit Qatar, 2026-11-12
- COMEX Global Technology Show 2027 — COMEX (OITE Global), 2026-11-12
- STEP Dubai 2027 — STEP Conference, 2026-11-12