Industry attention in the regional fashion supply chain will turn toward Dubai World Trade Centre from Monday 17 November to Wednesday 19 November 2025, when the 20th International Apparel and Textile Fair opens in Halls 6 and 7 with show timings from 10:00 to 18:00 each day. Organisers present the fair as a dedicated sourcing hub for fabrics, apparel, accessories and prints, connecting global mills with buyers from across the Middle East and North Africa. Exhibitor previews highlight strong participation from Asian, European and regional manufacturers who want direct access to brands, wholesalers and private label specialists. The compact three day format encourages buyers to plan tightly scheduled visits instead of casual browsing. For anyone working in fashion sourcing, the 10:00 to 18:00 window on each day provides a focused block for serious buying and negotiation.
Fashion sourcing platform for the region
Over the past decade, the International Apparel and Textile Fair has grown into one of the Gulf’s best known B2B fashion sourcing events, particularly for fabrics, trims, ready made garments and private label programs. It gives mills and manufacturers a chance to showcase seasonal collections, sustainable lines and speciality textiles directly to designers, retailers and distributors. At the same time, many visitors come looking for smaller minimums, quick turnaround programs or unique prints that can differentiate their ranges. Because of this, conversations on the stands often move quickly from design inspiration to pricing, lead times and production capacities. The fair is primarily trade oriented and best suited to fashion professionals and buying teams, although the atmosphere remains broadly suitable for adults and couples (trade friendly, not designed for young children).
Opening day timings and visitor flow
Each of the three days, including Monday 17 November, follows the same 10:00 to 18:00 schedule, which helps regional visitors plan day trips or half day visits around their other appointments. Early in the morning, the halls usually feel calmer as exhibitors finish preparations and early birds collect badges, so this slot suits visitors who want to walk the aisles quietly. Activity tends to peak from late morning through mid afternoon as pre scheduled meetings fill stands and the aisles become noticeably busier. Toward the late afternoon, the pace often slows again, giving space for revisits and last minute discoveries. If you want a mix of meetings and free exploration on any day, it is wise to shape your 10:00 to 18:00 timetable in advance.
Tickets, registration and pricing in AED
Visitor information confirms that entry for buyers and general visitors is free once registration is completed, so the effective door price is approximately 0 AED for those who pre register. Exhibitors, by contrast, pay stand fees that start from around 3,600 US dollars for a standard 9 square metre booth, which translates to approximately 13,200 AED depending on exchange rates. Larger stands, special locations and additional services such as branding or storage push investment significantly higher. While entry remains free, buyers still need to budget for transport, meals and any overnight stays if they choose to spend multiple days at the fair. Because packages and rates can change between now and November, you should treat all quoted figures as approximately in AED and check the current details during registration (suitable for solo professionals, small teams and business partners).
Inside halls 6 and 7 at DWTC
Halls 6 and 7 sit within the main Dubai World Trade Centre complex, connected by covered concourses to other exhibition halls, hotel links and food courts. The layout typically follows long aisles of stands divided by country pavilions, theme zones or product categories such as fabrics, apparel, accessories and printing. Buyers can expect to move repeatedly between these aisles as they compare quality, negotiate prices and check minimum order quantities. Nearby cafés and snack points provide natural meeting spots when stands feel busy. Comfortable closed shoes are strongly recommended, because even a short visit can easily involve several kilometres of walking between halls, registration desks and surrounding services (family friendly overall, but clearly designed for trade visitors).
Arriving from within Dubai city
Dubai World Trade Centre is positioned directly on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the World Trade Centre station on the Red Line of Dubai Metro opens almost onto the site, which makes public transport an easy option. Many visitors staying in areas such as Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Business Bay or Deira simply ride the metro to World Trade Centre, then walk a short distance to Halls 6 and 7. Metro fares for typical multi zone trips usually sit between approximately 6 and 12 AED per journey, depending on zones and card type. Taxis and app based rides remain widely available, with one way fares from central districts often ranging from about 20 to 45 AED, traffic dependent. Because parking closest to the main entrances can fill quickly on busy mornings, using the metro or arriving before 10:00 is usually the most comfortable choice (suitable for solo visitors, couples and small teams).
Travel plans from Abu Dhabi and other emirates
Visitors driving from Abu Dhabi generally follow Sheikh Zayed Road north toward Dubai, then exit for Dubai World Trade Centre, allowing around one hour and thirty minutes to nearly two hours each way depending on traffic and starting point. Sharjah based buyers often prefer to drive or take an intercity bus into Dubai, then transfer to the metro for the last leg to World Trade Centre station, which avoids the stress and cost of parking directly at the venue. Parking tariffs at DWTC can rise significantly during major events, and some areas may charge around 25 AED per hour at peak trade show times, so public transport often works out cheaper and more predictable. Whatever your starting emirate, it is sensible to build a generous buffer into both your morning arrival and evening return so that congestion around Sheikh Zayed Road and the Trade Centre district does not eat into valuable meeting time (trade focused, suitable for solo visitors, corporate delegations and business couples).
Weekend build up and show atmosphere
Because the fair runs from Monday 17 November to Wednesday 19 November 2025, many international visitors will arrive in Dubai on the preceding Friday or Saturday, using the weekend to rest after flights, visit malls or scout the area around the venue. This pattern usually creates a calm yet purposeful mood on the opening morning, with buyers who already know the hall layout moving directly to their priority stands. Throughout the three days, the atmosphere blends straightforward business talk with the creative side of fashion, as mills present new textures, sustainable blends and trend focused prints. Informal conversations in corridors and cafés often prove as important as scheduled meetings in shaping next season’s ranges. Overall, you can expect a professional but approachable atmosphere, well suited to solo buyers, design teams and visiting partners who want time to explore beyond their pre booked appointments.
Weather, clothing and practical warnings
Forecasts for Dubai from Friday 14 November through Monday 17 November 2025 point to mostly sunny or slightly hazy conditions, with daytime highs around 31 degrees Celsius and night time lows close to 22 degrees, and no significant rain risk currently highlighted. Light, breathable clothing works well for short outdoor walks between metro, taxi ranks and the halls, while a thin jacket or shawl helps with cool indoor air conditioning during long sessions. Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road and surrounding routes usually peaks on weekdays between about 07:30 and 09:30 in the morning and again between roughly 17:00 and 19:30, so arriving before 09:30 and considering a slightly later departure after the 18:00 closing can reduce delays. Parking prices in and around Dubai World Trade Centre sometimes increase during major events, and lost tickets can attract heavy fines, so keeping your parking slip or opting for metro can prevent unwelcome surprises at the end of the day. According to practical planning notes often highlighted by editors at www.few.ae, dressing for warm outdoor weather, treating all prices as approximately in AED and allowing extra travel time are the simplest ways to make your visit to the International Apparel and Textile Fair 2025 smoother, safer and far more productive.
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