ATM 2026 Booth Food & Sampling Compliance Guide

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — Why ATM 2026 Places a Premium on Food & Hospitality Compliance

The Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC are especially stringent for ATM 4–7 May 2026 because of the show scale, the value of on-stand business and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) operational policies. Organisers expect ~2,600–2,800 exhibitors and ~46,000–55,000 trade visitors from 150+ countries, with past editions generating around US$2.5bn in industry deals. Travel brands run mini-suites, tasting bars and VR hospitality demos to convert meetings into bookings — but DWTC enforces strict food, safety and waste controls to protect visitors and venue systems.

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — DWTC Rules Exhibitors Must Plan For

Sampling, catering and external contractors

• External catering: Generally prohibited at DWTC. Exemptions are rare and must be pre-approved through the venue and RX. If you plan sampling, you must confirm whether an exemption or an approved DWTC caterer is required.
• Food sampling permits: Dubai Municipality requires food-handler cards for all staff handling food on-stand and temporary food permits for sampling. On-stand food preparation often also needs HACCP evidence or equivalent food-safety documentation.

Safety, RAMS and submission timelines

• RAMS: Risk Assessment & Method Statement submissions are mandatory for any stand with food prep, refrigeration, or catering equipment. Typical submission windows are 4–8 weeks before build-in.
• Technical drawings: Structural, electrical and mechanical drawings must be submitted within the same 4–8 week window. DWTC will not approve ad hoc changes on-site without prior sign-off.

Storage, waste and sustainability

• No in-booth crate storage: DWTC prohibits leaving packing crates in stands during show hours; empty-case storage must be pre-booked.
• Waste removal: Dedicated waste bays and scheduled pickups are required; on-stand waste management plans are mandatory.
• Sustainability: DWTC’s Better Stands guidance encourages reusable materials, low-VOC finishes and reduced single-use disposables.

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — The #1 Pain Point: Turning Experiential Booths Into Compliance Risks

Experiential booths that rely on hospitality create compliance risk vectors. Common failure scenarios include:

• Unapproved samples or food items confiscated at build-in or show open.
• Late or rejected food permits and missing Dubai Municipality food-handler cards.
• Improper refrigeration or storage creating food-safety hazards; use of non-sealed or non-certified refrigeration.
• Electrical overloads caused by catering kit, coffee machines or additional refrigeration units not included in the electrical load sheet.

Real cost impacts are tangible: fines, forced removal of equipment or demos, lost demo hours and third-party surcharges commonly in the 10–30% range when organisers or contractors must remediate issues. At ATM, 40–60% of last-minute remediation cases involve food/sampling or technical orders.

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — Burdak’s Practical Fix: In-House Fabrication + Pre-Assembled Compliant Booths

We mitigate these risks by combining in-house fabrication with pre-assembly and integrated compliance documentation. Burdak Technical Services provides:

• In-house CNC joinery: We manufacture sealed service counters, integrated waste-management bays and refrigeration enclosures to DWTC-compliant dimensions — standard service counter depth 600–750mm, pass-thru heights 900mm, and dedicated waste chutes sized to local disposal standards.
• Sealed refrigeration units: Pre-fitted, lockable refrigeration cabinets with certified electrical ratings and condensation management to match DWTC HVAC requirements.
• Pre-assembled mock-ups & 3D mockups: Full-scale factory mock-ups allow client sign-off before submission. Our 3D mockups and drawings include material specs (low‑VOC finishes), fastenings and access points for cleaning and pest control documentation required by Dubai Municipality.
• Integrated RAMS & structural drawings: We deliver engineered RAMS and structural certificates ready for DWTC submission, reducing the risk of permit rejection.

Operational advantages include sequenced packing, labelled parts for rapid on-site assembly, and pre-test of refrigeration and AV in the factory so the stand is inspection-ready on arrival — avoiding crate-storage penalties and last-minute third-party markups.

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — Practical Checklist & Timeline for ATM 2026 Exhibitors (Actionable 6–12 Week Plan)

12 weeks out

• Issue exhibitor brief and BOQ; confirm whether you will offer sampling, demos or full catering.
• Prepare preliminary RAMS and indicate refrigeration, food prep or open flame (if any) requirements.
• Decide on Burdak’s in-house fabrication & 3D mockup option so technical sign-off can align with venue windows.

8 weeks out

• Submit final technical drawings, refrigeration specs and the electrical load sheet to DWTC and show organisers.
• Apply for Dubai Municipality temporary food permits and ensure nominated staff have food-handler cards. Provide HACCP evidence for on-stand preparation if required.

4 weeks out

• Factory mock-up review and client sign-off on the pre-assembled booth; lock materials and finishes to meet Better Stands guidance.
• Book DWTC services (catering, power, empty-case storage, hardline internet) and confirm crate removal windows.

On-site build & show tips

• Integrate certified food-handler staff and keep food-handler cards on-site for inspections.
• Test refrigeration and AV systems before doors open; verify electrical load limits and dedicated circuits for catering equipment.
• Coordinate crate removal and waste pickups with DWTC to avoid in-booth storage penalties.

Arabian Travel Market booth regulations DWTC — FAQ

Do I need Dubai Municipality food-handler cards for sampling at ATM?

Yes. All personnel handling or serving food must hold valid food-handler cards. Dubai Municipality also requires temporary food permits for samples and may request HACCP evidence for on-stand preparation.

Can I bring an outside caterer to DWTC?

Generally no. DWTC enforces a catering policy that prohibits external caterers except by explicit exemption. Plan for approvals early or use the venue-approved caterer. Using Burdak’s sealed refrigeration and compliant service counters reduces dependency on last-minute external caterers.

What are the typical submission windows for technical drawings and RAMS?

Expect to submit structural and RAMS documents 4–8 weeks before build-in. Late submissions risk rejection or on-site remediation fees.

What happens if our samples are not approved?

Unapproved samples can be confiscated, the demo shut down, and fines applied. Third-party remediation fees may reach 10–30% on top of corrective work. Pre-approving product lists with DWTC and Dubai Municipality avoids these outcomes.

How does Burdak reduce compliance risk?

We use in-house fabrication, CNC joinery and full-scale 3D mockups to pre-fit compliant counters, sealed refrigeration and waste bays. We also provide integrated RAMS and structural drawings for DWTC submission, reducing on-site surprises and third-party markups.

Need support with your ATM 2026 booth? Contact Burdak Technical Services to schedule a 3D mockup review and compliance readiness plan — we build to the DWTC rules so your hospitality demos run without disruption.