How ExpoFP supported WHX Dubai and WHX Labs 2026 with custom interactive floor plans at scale

WHX Dubai and WHX Labs are large-scale international healthcare exhibitions organized by Informa Markets. The 2026 edition marked a significant shift: WHX Dubai moved to the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) for the first time, while WHX Labs remained at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) — bringing the two co-located shows together at a combined scale not possible in previous years.

Together, the events welcomed over 235,000 visitors and 4,300 exhibitors from 180+ countries, making WHX 2026 one of the largest healthcare exhibitions in the world.

Large exhibitions run on logistics. Exhibitors need to be findable. Attendees need to move efficiently through complex spaces. Partners need integrations that hold up under live event conditions. For WHX Dubai and WHX Labs 2026, the floor plans sat at the center of all of that — and they needed to be built to a standard that matched the scale of the events themselves.

The challenge: navigating complexity at scale

The events presented a combination of challenges that pushed the limits of standard floor plan delivery:

• Extremely large scale across two co-located events, with 4,300+ exhibitors from all over the world
• Complex layouts spanning multiple halls, zones, and outdoor areas including parking
• High risk of attendee confusion due to venue size and density
• Frequent last-minute changes in the week leading up to the event
• Need for seamless coordination between multiple stakeholders: Informa Markets, Swapcard, and CrowdConnected
• Mobile usability and map clarity at high zoom levels were critical requirements
• Integration with blue-dot indoor positioning required a precise, structured map setup

What the organizer wanted to achieve

The project was built around five clear goals:

This mattered because the floor plan was tied not only to attendee navigation, but also to exhibitor discoverability, sponsor exposure, and the operational efficiency of a large international trade show. A stronger map experience helped all of those outcomes at once.

ExpoFP's solution

ExpoFP delivered two interactive floor plans — one for WHX Dubai (up to 4,000 booths) and one for WHX Labs (up to 1,000 booths) — as part of a fully custom production process.

The delivered scope included:

• 4,800+ booths mapped across both interactive floor plans
• Multi-zone wayfinding across halls, outdoor areas, and parking
• Highlighted POIs: stages, hubs, lounges, entrances, accessibility facilities, transport points
• Custom icon set aligned with event branding
• Exhibitor directory with search and category filters
• Blue-dot navigation integration via CrowdConnected
• Integration-ready setup for partner platforms (Swapcard)
• Intensive revision support including ~12h SLA for urgent pre-event changes
• Weekend support for last-minute updates

How the project was delivered

1. Discovery and setup

• Reviewed DWG files and venue layouts for both DWTC and DEC
• Defined zones, outdoor areas, and navigation structure across all spaces
• Aligned on branding requirements and custom icon design
• Coordinated with Informa and Swapcard on scope and integration requirements

2. Map build and feature setup

• Built fully custom floor plans from DWG and venue files (PRO package for both events)
• Designed and applied custom icons across the event layout
• Structured exhibitor data, zoning, and POI placement
• Configured integration with CrowdConnected for blue-dot indoor positioning

3. Pre-event optimization

• Intensive revision phase starting 1 week before the event
• Revision cycles delivered every 2 days with ~12h SLA for urgent changes
• Regular review calls with the Informa and Swapcard teams
• Weekend support provided for last-minute map updates

4. Launch and support

• Final delivery ahead of Feb 9 (WHX Dubai) and Feb 10 (WHX Labs)
• Onsite updates handled by the Swapcard team during the event
• Stable performance maintained throughout both events

The result: a high-usage navigation tool across both events

ExpoFP helped turn two large, complex venue layouts into clear, high-usage navigation tools used by tens of thousands of attendees.

WHX Dubai 2026 — measured impact

The interactive floor plan became the primary navigation layer for WHX Dubai 2026, used by over 124,000 unique users during event week (Feb 9–12). High engagement and repeat usage confirm that attendees relied heavily on the map to navigate complex spaces, discover exhibitors, and move efficiently across the venue.

WHX Labs 2026 — measured impact

For WHX Labs 2026, the floor plan served as an effective navigation and discovery tool used by over 34,000 unique users during event week (Feb 10–13). Despite being a smaller-scale event, engagement remained strong, demonstrating the flexibility of the solution across both large and mid-size formats.

Why this case matters for ExpoFP prospects

This case is especially relevant for:

• Large-scale event organizers managing complex, multi-hall exhibitions
• Events with indoor and outdoor navigation challenges across large venue footprints
• Organizers who need fast turnaround and can expect intensive last-minute changes
• Teams evaluating wayfinding solutions with real-time blue-dot navigation
• Event tech partners (apps, registration platforms) looking for reliable, integration-ready floor plans

It demonstrates that ExpoFP can handle large, complex events with fast turnaround, almost urgent updates, multi-partner coordination, and stable performance at scale.

Final takeaway

Most events still treat the floor plan as a finishing touch. WHX Dubai and WHX Labs 2026 treated it as infrastructure. The result was two live, revision-ready maps that kept pace with a fast-moving event — handling last-minute changes, supporting real-time navigation, and reaching over 158,000 unique users across both shows.