In short: a space-only stand is bare floor. Everything on it, and every service it connects to, has to be designed, approved and ordered: the structure, the power connection, any rigging, flooring and the contractor’s access to the hall. Most delays come from the gaps between the stand contractor, the exhibitor and the organizer, not from the build itself. Fix who orders what, against the deadlines in your exhibitor manual, before design is final.
This guide is for exhibitors and agencies, including teams based outside Saudi Arabia, who have booked raw space at a Saudi exhibition and need the stand, the services and the approvals to arrive together. It does not quote prices. For cost drivers see our booth cost guide.
What “space only” means in practice
With space only you rent floor area and nothing else: no walls, no carpet, no lighting and no power. A shell scheme, by contrast, comes with a basic structure. If you are still choosing, read shell scheme vs custom booth.
Each show sets its own rules, so the exhibitor manual is the document that matters. As one published example, the exhibitor page of Intersec Saudi Arabia says space-only exhibitors receive raw space with no stand fittings, flooring or electrics, place technical orders such as electricity, rigging and carpet through the organizer’s online ordering system, and that build-up starts three days before opening with the first day reserved for stand contractors (Intersec Saudi Arabia exhibitor information, viewed 20 October 2026). Your show may differ on every one of these points.
The four things that are easy to leave out of a booth quote
- Organizer and venue services. The power connection, rigging points, water or compressed air and internet are usually ordered from the organizer or venue, and priced by them.
- Design approval. Stand drawings normally have to be submitted and approved before build-up.
- Contractor access. Contractor registration, badges and vehicle access for build-up and dismantling.
- Dismantling and clearance. The time window after the show and what happens to anything left behind.
When you compare booth quotes, check which of these each supplier includes, excludes or leaves unclear.
Design approval: what to prepare
Organizers publish their own submission list and deadline. These are the items they commonly ask for; your manual decides the actual list:
- Plan and elevations with dimensions, matching the stand number and the space you booked
- Stand height, and any parts above the general height limit
- Open sides and setbacks from neighbours and aisles
- Structural details for platforms, mezzanines, heavy screens or large spans
- A rigging plan if anything hangs from the hall ceiling
- An electrical layout showing the main connection point and the load
- Material information, including fire-safety certificates where the manual asks for them
Submit drawings that match what will be built. If the design changes after approval, check whether the organizer needs to see it again.
Power: plan the load before you order
The power you order has to match what the stand will draw. List every item that needs power, from LED walls and lighting to screens, fridges, coffee machines and demo equipment, and agree who adds them up. Then check three things in the manual:
- the connection sizes on offer and the order deadline, since late orders can cost more or be unavailable;
- where the connection reaches the stand, so it fits the layout and storage room;
- whether anything needs power overnight, such as fridges or servers, and how the show handles that.
Rigging: hanging signs and trusses
A hanging sign is often the most visible part of a stand, and the part with the most approvals. Check whether the venue allows rigging over your space, which points can be used, the weight limits, and whether rigging must be done by the venue’s or organizer’s appointed contractor. Rigging plans usually need approval separately from the stand drawing.
Who does what: a working matrix
| Item | Exhibitor | Stand contractor | Organizer or venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space booking and exhibitor manual | Books and shares the manual | Reads and plans against it | Publishes rules and deadlines |
| Stand design and drawings | Approves | Prepares and submits, or supplies for submission | Reviews and approves |
| Power and utility orders | Orders or authorizes | Calculates load and specifies | Supplies and connects |
| Rigging | Approves the design | Prepares the rigging plan | Approves and may install |
| Contractor registration and badges | Confirms the contractor | Registers crew and vehicles | Issues access |
| Build-up, show days, dismantling | Signs off the handover | Builds, supports and removes | Sets the time windows |
Work back from the manual’s deadlines
Put the manual’s dates into one plan: drawing submission, service orders, contractor registration, build-up and breakdown. Then plan design and production backwards from the earliest of them. Our booth production timeline shows a typical sequence.
Checklist before you submit drawings
- The drawing shows the same stand number and dimensions as the contract
- Height, open sides and setbacks follow the manual
- Every powered item is on the load list, and the main connection is marked
- Hanging elements have a rigging plan
- Material certificates requested by the manual are ready
- One person on the exhibitor side signs off the final design
Hypothetical example
This example is invented for illustration and does not describe a real project.
An exhibitor from abroad books 6 × 9 m of space only and approves a design with a large LED wall. The drawing is approved, but nobody adds the LED wall to the power order, and the late order costs extra on the first build-up day. A one-page load list agreed between the exhibitor and the contractor before ordering would have caught it.
How BiliEvent can help
We design and build space-only stands in Saudi Arabia, prepare the drawings and power plan, coordinate with the organizer on approvals and services, and handle build-up, show days and dismantling. Send the exhibitor manual, the floor plan and your stand number with your request.
Submit a request or see booth production and what to send your booth contractor.
Sources
- Intersec Saudi Arabia: exhibitor planning and preparation (example of one show’s published rules; viewed 20 October 2026)
Last reviewed: October 20, 2026