GITEX GLOBAL 2025 Sets Record with Global Tech Dialogues
▼ Summary
– GITEX GLOBAL 2025 attracted record participation with 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups, and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technology.
– High-profile discussions featured OpenAI’s Sam Altman and G42’s Peng Xiao on AI-native societies, while global officials addressed AI regulation and cross-border data security.
– Breakthrough innovations were unveiled including smart contact lenses for glucose monitoring, brain-computer implants, and AI gene-editing technology for disease resistance.
– Numerous public-private partnerships were formed, including AWS and e& training 30,000 people in AI and Presight collaborating with Dubai Taxi for smart transportation solutions.
– The 2026 event will transform into GITEX TechCation in December, featuring extended networking and immersive experiences alongside the new GITEX Scale Summit for global leaders.
GITEX GLOBAL 2025 has firmly established itself as the world’s premier technology event, drawing unprecedented participation from 6,800 technology enterprises, 2,000 startups, 1,200 investors, and representatives from 180 countries. Hosted across the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Harbour, the five-day summit served as a dynamic hub for deal-making and unveiling groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, quantum computing, digital health, and biotechnology.
Amr Kamel, Microsoft UAE’s General Manager, emphasized the event’s pivotal role in advancing the UAE’s digital leadership. He noted that the nation’s forward-thinking policies have cultivated an environment where innovation flourishes, enabling responsible AI adoption and fostering a world-class digital ecosystem that draws international collaboration and investment.
One of the most anticipated moments featured a virtual dialogue between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and G42 Group CEO Peng Xiao. Their discussion centered on building AI-native societies and how international partnerships are laying the groundwork for the global AI economy. Throughout the week, hundreds of ministers and senior officials from the UAE, European Union, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America engaged in critical conversations about trust, regulation, and sovereignty in the AI era. These exchanges highlighted a significant shift: nations are now co-designing the future of technology rather than merely reacting to it.
This year’s event placed a strong emphasis on future-critical sectors, with dedicated showcases including GITEX Quantum Expo, Physical Ai, Semicon, Super Data Centres, and GITEX Digi Health & Biotech. Attendees witnessed a host of next-generation technologies, from smart contact lenses capable of estimating glucose levels through biomarkers to brain-computer implants that interpret neural signals. AI-driven gene-editing tools designed to reprogram DNA for disease resistance also captured significant attention. Major global players such as ai71, Alibaba Cloud, AMD, AWS, e&, G42, Google, HPE, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, and Snowflake presented infrastructure solutions engineered to support sovereign AI workloads and national-scale intelligence projects.
Zaid Ghattas of AMD described the event as unforgettable, praising the opportunity to connect with the broader ecosystem and present AMD’s AI and computing portfolio. He expressed enthusiasm for GITEX 2026, anticipating it will reflect the continued digital expansion across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
Miguel Vega from Oracle highlighted the company’s commitment to “Enterprise-Ready AI,” showcasing how Oracle’s distributed and sovereign cloud solutions are accelerating AI adoption for key national organizations in the UAE. Tareq Masoud of Snowflake pointed out that GITEX provided an ideal platform to demonstrate how the AI Data Cloud enables businesses to convert data into tangible, measurable value, moving beyond experimentation to achieve impactful outcomes.
The event also set a new record for cross-sector collaboration, with numerous memoranda of understanding signed to strengthen public-private alliances. Noteworthy partnerships included Presight and Dubai Taxi Company joining forces to create AI solutions for smarter, sustainable urban transport. Under the ‘AI Nation – Afaaq’ initiative, AWS and e& launched a program aimed at training 30,000 individuals across the UAE in AI and cloud technologies. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport announced 19 strategic partnerships in a single day, focusing on AI-enhanced public services, real estate, smart city development, and mobility solutions, marking the largest single-day commitment in the government’s history at the event.
Chiara Marcati of ai71 remarked that GITEX 2025 represented a turning point for the company, showcasing tangible AI deployments with the UAE Public Prosecution and announcing a partnership with DGE for global scaling. This demonstrated Abu Dhabi’s transition from AI demonstrations to real-world implementation.
At Dubai Harbour, Expand North Star, GITEX GLOBAL’s startup showcase, brought together founders from more than 100 countries and investors managing over $1.1 trillion in capital. The event facilitated immediate cross-border partnerships and venture launches. The Supernova Challenge 2.0, offering a $300,000 prize pool, recognized Korea’s AIM Intelligence as the top winner, with runners-up from Chile and Ecuador, reinforcing GITEX’s status as the largest global platform for startup growth.
Looking ahead, GITEX is set to redefine the tech events landscape in 2026 with the launch of the world’s first GITEX TechCation. Relocating to the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, the event will run from December 7 to 11, 2026. TechCation aims to transform the traditional exhibition into a citywide experience, integrating technology with Dubai’s vibrant lifestyle, cultural offerings, and tourism attractions.
The program encourages extended stays and deeper networking, inviting international executives and investors to enjoy the city’s diverse amenities, from culinary arts and wellness activities to cultural events and outdoor adventures. The event will commence with the GITEX Scale Summit, a day dedicated to strategic dialogues among global leaders on pivotal trends, opportunities, and policy frameworks influencing AI economies worldwide. From December 8 to 11, the expo will showcase cutting-edge innovations across AI, quantum technologies, biosciences, and semiconductors, promoting ongoing collaboration in sectors critical to our collective future.
(Source: Economy Middle East)
