Dubai, UAE – Global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and Huawei are among more than 6,000 businesses displaying their latest advancements in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, mobility and sustainability at the 42nd annual GITEX Global, the biggest tech event of the year.
Spanning a five-day extravaganza, the event is taking place at Dubai’s World Trade Centre and Dubai Harbour, where over 6,000 businesses are showcasing their cutting-edge digital innovations in an impressive spread across 41 halls and exhibition spaces spanning a staggering 2.7 million square feet.
Thousands of innovative start-ups ready to make their mark in the tech landscape with groundbreaking digital products and services are also attending.
This year’s GITEX Global is an amalgamation of ten interconnected shows, including GITEX Global, AI Everything, GITEX Impact, Future Urbanism, GLOBAL Devslam, Superbridge Summit Dubai, Expand North Star, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania. Artificial intelligence takes center stage as an unofficial theme, given its meteoric rise in popularity and its projected impact on Dubai’s 2030 GDP.
The 2023 edition has attracted 180,000 technology specialists from 180 countries. This figure represents a 40 percent increase compared to previous years, showcasing Dubai’s growing allure in the world of tech.
Dubai’s initiatives, such as floating cars and driverless AI-powered vehicles demonstrated by the Dubai Police, underscore the city’s commitment to establishing itself as a global technology leader. Nevertheless, with Silicon Valley firmly entrenched as the world’s leading tech hub and Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking smart city, NEOM, currently under construction, the competition for global tech dominance remains fierce.
Karim Azar, Regional Vice President of Cloudera, a hybrid data platform company, believes Dubai has the potential to become a tech hub.
He said, “Dubai has been credible for many years now. It’s built on what it said it was going to do for the last 20 years. A lot of tech talent has already been attracted here. It is the Silicon Valley of the Middle East and will continue to be that way, especially in the short term.”
The UAE’s economy is poised for significant growth in the coming years, primarily driven by the projected impact of technology, especially AI. According to a report from PwC, AI is set to contribute a staggering $96 billion, accounting for 14 percent of the nation’s 2030 GDP, the highest GDP impact in the region.
The Middle East as a whole is expected to benefit from an additional $320 billion by 2030, with $135.2 billion contributed by Saudi Arabia and $42.7 billion by Egypt. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar are set to share a combined contribution of $45.9 billion, as outlined in the PwC report.
While the United States remains a top destination for tech enthusiasts, the UAE is closing the gap. Muhammad Khalid, Senior Solutions Engineer at Acronis, a global cyber solutions company, is impressed by the diverse talent at this year’s GITEX and believes Dubai can become the world’s leading tech hub due to its exceptional connectivity with the rest of the world. He states, “GITEX empowers people’s presence in the region as well.”
Former Silicon Valley resident and founder of Syntech, Edward Zhang, is less convinced that Dubai, or any other city, can dethrone Silicon Valley as the top tech destination. He acknowledges Silicon Valley’s rich history and established talent pool but remains open to the possibility of Dubai’s future prominence, especially in emerging fields like VR tech. His presence at GITEX is part of an effort to expand his sales from online to offline, targeting the GCC and Middle East markets.