If you came here for a number, here it is before you scroll through six sections looking for it:
An exhibition stand in Saudi Arabia costs between SAR 900 and SAR 1,500 per square metre, covering design, fabrication, installation and dismantling.
That range covers the vast majority of stands built at exhibitions in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Below it you are usually looking at limited off-the-shelf systems; above it, stands with special requirements, a second deck, oversized screens, or complex fabrication.
But a rate per square metre is not a budget. What catches exhibitors out is not the price of the stand, it is everything the price of the stand does not include. That is what this guide breaks down.
Cost by common stand size
| Stand size | Expected range (SAR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9 m² (3×3) | 8,100, 13,500 | Small corner stand, right for a first appearance |
| 18 m² (6×3) | 16,200, 27,000 | The most common size for mid-sized companies |
| 36 m² (6×6) | 32,400, 54,000 | Allows an enclosed meeting area |
| 100 m² (10×10) | 90,000, 150,000 | Anchor stand with multiple open faces |
| 200 m² | 180,000, 300,000 | Sponsor-level stand, often double-deck |
Smaller stands sit at the top of the per-metre range and larger ones at the bottom. The reason is simple: design, transport and installation costs do not scale in step with floor area. A 9-metre stand needs the same trip to site as a 36-metre one.
What the square-metre rate includes
When we quote SAR 900 to 1,500 per metre, that normally covers:
- 3D design and the revision rounds on it
- Structural and production drawings
- Full fabrication: joinery, acrylic, CNC and laser cutting, paint and finishing
- Printing on the stand, facades, graphics and signage
- Base lighting and the electrical runs inside the stand
- Transport to site and installation
- Dismantling once the show closes
What it does not include, where budgets break
These items are paid to other parties, usually the show organiser, and have nothing to do with your stand contractor. We list them because overlooking them is the single most common reason a participation budget blows out:
The floor space itself. Often larger than the cost of the stand. It is paid to the organiser, also priced per square metre, and varies sharply by show and by where your stand sits in the hall. A corner or two-sided plot costs more than one boxed in between neighbours.
Organiser administration fees. Entry permits, exhibitor badges, design review charges, and sometimes a refundable deposit.
Power and water consumption. Ordered by kilowatt and invoiced by the organiser, a line many exhibitors discover late.
Furniture and equipment. Screens, seating and fridges, where they are not written into the agreed scope.
Staffing and hospitality. Your stand team, their product training, and refreshments.
Storage after the show. If you intend to reuse the stand at the next exhibition, storage is a monthly cost.
A practical rule: allow between one third and one half of your total participation budget for the stand itself. The rest goes to space, fees and operations.
Six factors that move the price within the range
Number of open faces. A stand open on four sides needs finishing from every angle. One with a closed back wall saves an entire face of fabrication.
Height and second decks. Exceeding standard height triggers certified structural drawings and organiser approval, and a second deck costs more than the added area suggests.
Finishing materials. Painted timber is not Corian; laser-lit acrylic is not printed vinyl.
Interactive elements. Screens, sound systems, augmented reality, programmed lighting, each adds fabrication, programming and on-site operation, and moves the stand closer to a full brand experience.
The city. A stand fabricated in Jeddah and installed in Tabuk or Abha carries extra transport and crew travel.
Time remaining. Rush scheduling means night shifts and express freight. Booking early is cheaper, and not by a little.
Modular or custom?
A modular stand is built from re-assemblable systems and sits at the lower end of the range. Its advantage is reuse across multiple shows, so its real cost drops with every outing. Its drawback is a limited form language, and it may resemble other stands in the same hall.
A custom stand is designed and fabricated once, to specific dimensions and materials. It sits at the top of the range and gives you a visual presence no off-the-shelf system will match.
The rule we recommend in practice: if you exhibit at three or more shows a year at roughly the same size, modular is cheaper over time. If you have one flagship show a year where you need to be seen, custom is the right investment.
How to cut cost without weakening the stand
Set your budget at the start. The easiest conversation we have is the one where the client gives us the number and the objective, and the stand is designed to fit both. The hardest is where we design first and price after, and the client then has to cut the very elements that justified exhibiting.
Ask for a stand that dismantles and can be reused. The fabrication difference is small; the saving at the next show is not.
Concentrate spend at eye level. Visitors see the facade, the graphics and the lighting. Surfaces nobody looks at do not need the same finish.
Book early. Eight weeks for a custom stand. Last-minute work is priced as an emergency.
Consolidate suppliers. Stand, printing, giveaways and staffing from one source costs less than five contracts, and removes the handover points where schedules slip.
Frequently asked questions
Does the price include the exhibition floor space?
No. Floor space is paid directly to the show organiser. It is entirely separate from the cost of designing and building the stand, and is often larger.
How much lead time does a stand need?
Eight weeks for a custom stand, four to six for modular. Peak seasons fill early, so booking starts the moment your show date is confirmed.
Can the stand be reused at another exhibition?
Yes, if it is designed for it from the outset. Reuse requires demountable fabrication, proper storage, and a light graphics refresh between shows.
Who handles organiser approvals and structural drawings?
Your contractor should. Organiser forms, height limits and certified drawings are part of the scope, not a task handed back to the client.
Can you work to a fixed budget?
Yes, and it is the better way to work. Give us the number and the objective, and the design is built to fit them.
Next step
If you have a show date and booked space, all we need to give you an accurate figure is the size, the number of open faces, the show date, and your budget range.
We design, build and install exhibition stands from our workshop in Jeddah, and install them in more than 30 Saudi cities. You can browse our previous work or request a quote.
Stands we designed, built and installed
Photographed on site after handover, no renders.
Have a project and want a real number?
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