More than 16,000 people walked through Dubai World Trade Centre on the opening day of Forex Expo Dubai 2026, filling five exhibition halls with traders, exhibitors and industry figures. The turnout marks the ninth edition of the event, one of the region's larger gatherings for the trading and financial technology sector.

More than 270 exhibitors set up across the venue, giving attendees a wide spread of platforms and services to explore over the course of the day.

Dubai's FinTech standing in focus

The expo's timing lines up with Dubai's recent ranking as the world's number one location for FinTech in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, a distinction that added weight to conversations happening on the show floor about the city's role in global finance.

One of those conversations played out in a fireside chat titled 'Where Capital Meets Innovation: Building the UAE's Next Growth Ecosystem.' Paul Dawalibi, CEO of Innovation City, took part in the 20-minute discussion, addressing how capital and innovation intersect as the UAE builds out its next phase of economic growth.

A mix of finance and celebrity draw

Alongside the traders and exhibitors, the event attracted a notable public presence. Content creator Mo Vlogs and Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela were both in attendance, adding a layer of mainstream visibility to what is primarily a trade-focused expo.

Organisers also ran a Gold Lucky Draw during the day, with prizes totalling 160g of 24K gold offered to attendees.

What comes next

Forex Expo Dubai 2026 continues with its second day on September 23, again at Dubai World Trade Centre. With five halls in use and the exhibitor list already exceeding 270 companies, the event's opening numbers suggest organisers will be looking to sustain, if not build on, the day one turnout as the expo wraps up.

For attendees and exhibitors alike, the event offers a snapshot of where Dubai currently sits in the global trading and FinTech conversation, reinforced by the city's top ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index and the scale of participation seen on day one.

Reported by Khaleej Times.