Dubai’s business calendar in late 2025 will be shaped by the Global Trade Finance Expo, a two day gathering focused on trade credit, liquidity, and cross border payments. Day one is scheduled for Wednesday 19 November 2025, with the programme running from 08:30 to 18:30 at Shangri La Dubai, a central hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road that organiser information currently lists as the venue for the expo. Registration begins from 08:30, followed by a full sequence of keynotes, panels and case studies that track the latest shifts in regulation, technology and trade risk. The day formally closes with a networking reception listed from 16:40 to 18:30, giving delegates time for structured and informal meetings before the evening peak traffic. For regional bankers, corporate treasurers and fintech leaders, this first day is positioned as one of the most concentrated trade finance meetups in Dubai in 2025.
Day one agenda and timing
The official agenda shows delegates checking in for registration and morning coffee at 08:30, with opening remarks starting at around 09:15 in the main conference room. After the welcome, the programme usually moves quickly into a scene setting panel on the state of global trade finance, covering macro trends, geopolitical risks and shifting regulatory expectations. Mid morning slots are typically dedicated to specialist discussions, before a networking coffee break around 10:10 to 10:50 that allows people to circulate between sponsors and exhibitors. Lunch is currently slated from 12:40 to 14:00, giving enough time for side meetings before afternoon sessions resume. The day officially winds down with a networking reception from 16:40 to 18:30, so you should plan to stay until the end if you want maximum contact time.
Morning focus on trade risk and regulation
In the morning block, the focus sits heavily on credit risk, trade insurance and regulatory change affecting banks and exporting corporates. Panels are expected to explore how banks adjust their risk appetite, how export credit agencies and development finance institutions support transactions, and how sanctions and compliance regimes affect deal structuring. Because these are highly technical topics, the room tends to fill with senior trade bankers, heads of trade finance, compliance leads and large corporate treasurers (professional audience, not family friendly). Speakers often use real case studies from MENA, Europe and Asia to illustrate how structures actually work in practice rather than staying theoretical. If you want a seat close to the front for these risk and regulation panels, aim to be in the room before 09:15.
Afternoon sessions on technology and supply chains
After lunch, the agenda typically shifts toward technology, digital trade platforms and supply chain finance models that are now reshaping how deals flow. Recent versions of the programme have highlighted themes such as AI in trade documentation, digitised letters of credit, blockchain based supply chain visibility, and embedded finance solutions for exporters. There is usually an emphasis on practical deployment, so many sessions pair banks with fintechs or corporate users to show how pilots moved into full scale usage. Late afternoon can include case study style presentations followed by short Q&A segments before delegates move directly into the networking drinks. For technology focused attendees, the afternoon block from about 14:00 until the reception is the period with the densest concentration of digital trade content.
Who usually attends and approximate delegate costs
This is a business to business event rather than a public fair, so the typical attendee list covers trade and transaction bankers, corporate treasury teams, export managers, lawyers, trade insurers, platform founders and regulators (strongly skewed to solo professionals or corporate teams, not suitable for children). Marketing materials and partner listings describe it as a place to meet “senior decision makers in global trade and investment”, which matches the presence of banks, traders, corporates, export credit agencies and development finance institutions in recent editions. Ticketing information on partner platforms currently lists general admission at around 1,918 EUR for a full two day pass, which converts to approximately 8,200 AED at current exchange rates, though specific categories and discounts can alter this figure. Because passes are a significant investment at approximately 8,200 AED, it is important to secure approval and register early.
Reaching the venue from within Dubai
Shangri La Dubai sits directly on Sheikh Zayed Road, within a short walk of Financial Centre Metro Station on the Red Line and within quick taxi reach of Downtown, DIFC and the World Trade Centre area. For many Dubai based delegates, the easiest option on day one will be to take the Metro to Financial Centre and walk roughly 7 to 10 minutes to the hotel entrance, avoiding morning parking stress. Taxis and ride hailing cars are plentiful in this corridor but can experience slowdowns between 07:45 and 09:15 on weekdays, especially near large intersections. If you prefer to drive, the hotel offers valet and on site parking, though capacity can be tight when large conferences coincide with guest stays. Parking capacity is limited, so driving delegates should arrive well before 08:00 to reduce the risk of delays.
Arriving from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other Emirates
Delegates commuting from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 19 November 2025 will likely use the E11 highway, with typical travel times of around 90 minutes in light traffic and substantially more during peak hours. To arrive comfortably for 08:30 registration, it is wise to leave Abu Dhabi city between 05:30 and 06:00, then either park near a Dubai Metro station such as Ibn Battuta or continue directly to the hotel and use valet or nearby paid parking (suitable for solo delegates and corporate car shares). From Sharjah and Ajman, early morning congestion on the approach to Dubai can be intense, so many professionals choose to leave before 06:30 and either carpool or park near a Red Line station and continue by Metro. Those coming from Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah often prefer to travel the evening before and stay in Dubai, particularly when they also plan to attend networking drinks until 18:30. If you are returning to another emirate after the reception, consider leaving central Dubai after 20:00 when outbound traffic usually eases.
Inside the hotel and surrounding business district
The conference spaces at Shangri La Dubai are fully indoors, air conditioned and set up in typical business hotel style with plenary halls, breakout rooms and foyer areas for exhibitors. Coffee and snack stations are usually spread through the foyer, so delegates can keep conversations going between formal sessions rather than queuing far from the action. Because the hotel sits close to DIFC and Downtown, some participants schedule side meetings in nearby offices and then return for key panels or the networking reception. For those hosting clients or partners, tower restaurants and lounges nearby provide quieter corners for one to one conversations after the official programme. This layout makes the expo particularly efficient for solo visitors who want to maximise meetings in a compact part of the city.
Weather outlook around 19 November 2025
Forecast data for Wednesday 19 November 2025 in Dubai currently points to a dry, mainly sunny day, with early morning temperatures near 22 degrees Celsius and afternoon highs around 31 to 32 degrees. Humidity should be moderate compared with the summer months, so short outdoor walks between the Metro, taxis and the hotel entrance are manageable in business attire. For delegates extending their stay into the weekend, current forecasts for Friday 21 November and Saturday 22 November show similarly bright conditions, with highs around 32 to 33 degrees and cooler evenings near 20 to 22 degrees, again with no rain warnings. Because all core programme elements take place indoors, there is no risk of mud or weather damage to exhibition areas, but the heat can still sap energy when you move around the city. Light, breathable business clothing combined with comfortable shoes for short walks will keep you far more comfortable than heavy fabrics or very formal footwear.
Warnings, weather and travel tips for day one
On Wednesday 19 November 2025, expect warm, dry weather in central Dubai, with clear skies, morning temperatures in the low 20s and afternoon peaks near 31 to 32 degrees, so a light blazer or cardigan that you can remove easily will work well inside air conditioned halls. Plan extra time for morning traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road and around Downtown, and remember that valet and on site parking at major hotels can back up quickly when many delegates arrive between 08:00 and 08:30. Using the Red Line Metro to Financial Centre, then walking or taking a short taxi ride, often provides a more predictable arrival, especially for those staying near other stations. Ticket prices for the expo, currently around 1,918 EUR or approximately 8,200 AED for a general admission pass, are subject to change as organisers adjust categories, taxes and any late booking surcharges, so treat all figures as indicative rather than fixed. To avoid stress, secure your pass in advance, aim to reach the hotel before 08:00, and keep an eye on updated agenda and pricing notes in the days before 19 November 2025. According to practical planning tips frequently highlighted by the editorial team behind www.few.ae, delegates who combine early registration, Metro based travel and flexible layers of clothing tend to navigate long conference days in Dubai with far less friction.
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