GITEX GLOBAL: Dubai’s Innovation Hub Expands

Dubai’s premier technology events, GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, are central pillars in the UAE’s ambitious strategy to build a diversified, innovation-driven economy. These gatherings significantly strengthen the nation’s standing as a global leader in fields like artificial intelligence and advanced technology. The upcoming relocation to Dubai Expo City in 2026 marks a pivotal moment, signaling a new chapter for the world’s largest technology exhibition.

Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO of KAOUN International, emphasizes that the move is far more than a simple change of address. It represents a fundamental reinvention of the event, aligning it with the next wave of global technological advancement and the soaring ambitions of AI-powered economies everywhere. This strategic shift is designed to inject fresh energy into the experience for all participants.

The new home at Expo City Dubai is the world’s largest purpose-built events venue. Its strategic location offers unparalleled advantages, situated near the monumental $35 billion Al Maktoum International Airport development and just minutes from Dubai’s vibrant tourism centers. This places GITEX at the very crossroads of global connectivity, technology, and accessibility.

A significant change accompanies the move: GITEX GLOBAL is permanently shifting to a winter calendar slot, coinciding with Dubai’s peak tourism season. The 2026 edition will commence on December 7th with a dedicated Summit focused on the most critical tech trends and debates. This will be followed by four days of high-impact business exhibitions from December 8th to 11th. This new format and timing are engineered to reimagine the tech event experience and attract even greater international engagement.

A major development for 2026 is the convergence of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star at the Dubai Exhibition Centre within Expo City. This unification restores a powerful synergy, bringing together global technology giants, ambitious startups, deep-pocketed investors, and influential policymakers in one dynamic location. The result is a vibrant nexus for groundbreaking ideas, capital deployment, and strategic partnerships.

The combination of the new venue, dates, and format creates a unique “tech-cation” experience. This distinctive Dubai offering seamlessly blends world-class technology and business with the city’s renowned lifestyle, hospitality, and cultural attractions, making it an unmissable destination event.

The expansion of GITEX GLOBAL into the planet’s largest tech event network demonstrates that Dubai’s homegrown brands possess both scalability and global appeal. By establishing a presence in the world’s largest economies and rapidly emerging digital nations, from Germany and Kazakhstan to Vietnam and Nigeria, the strategy fosters equitable growth. It energizes global ecosystems while facilitating the movement of capital across both established and frontier markets.

In today’s world, technology acts as a new form of diplomacy, and AI is reshaping global opportunities. GITEX serves as a powerful multiplier where these ambitions meet and transformative partnerships are born. Success is measured not merely by attendance figures but by tangible outcomes: policy frameworks influenced, investments secured, new trends unlocked, startups scaling internationally, and entire industries advancing due to connections forged at the events.

The impact extends to job creation, knowledge exchange, and access to critical intelligence. By convening public-private networks and disseminating international research, GITEX empowers companies to internalize innovation, expand across borders, and enhance their digital capabilities. Essentially, it has become a trusted catalyst for empowerment, competitiveness, and prosperity in the digital age.

The economic contribution of these events is substantial. In 2023, flagship events at the Dubai World Trade Centre, led by GITEX and Gulfood, generated an impressive AED 7.22 billion in economic output and AED 4.15 billion in Gross Value Added. This represents a 53 percent annual increase, directly fueling the D33 agenda’s goal of doubling Dubai’s economy by 2033 and cementing the role of major events as engines for trade and innovation.

The quality of attendees is equally critical. Each year, GITEX attracts over 200,000 top executives, government leaders, and investors who collectively manage more than $1 trillion in assets. This consistent influx of global decision-makers strengthens international relationships, drives foreign direct investment, and elevates the UAE’s position in global technology competitiveness rankings.

The platform also acts as a crucial intermediary, bringing together public and private sector networks to enable landmark initiatives like the Dubai Sandbox. This project encourages the testing and commercialization of new technologies, aligning perfectly with Dubai’s comprehensive AI strategy. At its heart, GITEX is where capital, talent, and expertise converge.

Beyond the exhibition halls, GITEX GLOBAL plays an instrumental role in shaping Dubai’s future as a lifestyle and innovation hub. By engaging digital nomads, the event connects the D33 agenda to the global mobility of talent, positioning Dubai not just as a city for business transactions, but as a place to live, create, and scale ventures. This integration of business and lifestyle reinforces the long-term vision of attracting the world’s finest minds.

Over 45 years, GITEX GLOBAL has consistently evolved to stay ahead of the industry’s most pressing frontiers. Each edition expands into new sectors; GITEX GLOBAL 2025, for instance, will feature dedicated showcases on physical AI, semiconductors, data centers, quantum computing, digital health, and biotech, while also deepening its focus on AI, cybersecurity, and digital government.

What truly sets GITEX apart is the unparalleled breadth of expertise it assembles. Annually, global CEOs, policymakers, researchers, breakthrough innovators, and UAE leadership gather not to repeat familiar stories, but to tackle the defining questions of our era. These include how to exercise AI sovereignty, how regulation can keep pace with innovation, and how responsible scaling should guide economic growth.

The event’s growing influence is reflected in new country delegations from nations like Brazil and Serbia, signaling the expanding geography of innovation and the trust placed in Dubai as a global collaboration hub. Simultaneously, the launch of new AI-focused events across the network, from Egypt to Kenya, has cemented the UAE’s central role in international AI dialogues, ensuring the nation is not just a participant but a co-architect of the global trajectory.

The trust earned is also visible in the event’s scale. GITEX now represents one of the largest networks of global tech relationships, a consistency that has enabled expansion into 12 cities and countries in just three years, an unmatched achievement in the events industry. This continuous reinvention in lockstep with the technology world ensures that GITEX remains the most influential barometer of global technological progress.

(Source: Economy Middle East)