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Dubai’s GITEX Global 2025: A Showcase of Tech Ambition and AI Innovation
Dubai, UAE (Oct 2025) – The Dubai World Trade Centre was at full capacity and then some as GITEX Global 2025, the planet’s largest tech showcase, took place from October 13–17. Marking its 45th edition, this year’s GITEX was bigger, busier, and more AI-centric than ever, underlining Dubai’s stature as a global tech hub. The event drew over 6,800 companies and 1,800 startups from around 180 countries, alongside tens of thousands of tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and investors who thronged the venue’s halls.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated GITEX 2025, signaling the importance of the event at the highest levels of leadership. During his tour, Sheikh Mohammed stopped by numerous exhibits, from global titans like Cisco, Huawei, IBM and Microsoft to innovative UAE government stands – witnessing cutting-edge demonstrations in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and cloud technology. He shared his vision on social media, highlighting that 170 countries were represented by more than 6,000 entities and over 1,400 expert speakers at this “major global event for technology and AI,” and expressed pride in the UAE for convening the world to shape the future.
AI was undeniably the star of GITEX 2025. The conference agenda featured the largest AI program in GITEX’s history, reflecting the global AI boom that’s transforming industries. Top tech companies used GITEX to showcase AI breakthroughs: Alibaba Cloud demonstrated advanced cloud AI solutions, AMD unveiled high-performance AI chips, AWS and Google highlighted new AI services, and regional player G42 (Abu Dhabi’s AI firm) drew attention with its AI supercomputing prowess, among others. Newcomers like Cerebras (with its AI supercomputer built with G42) and Tenstorrent (AI chip startup led by legendary engineer Jim Keller) also turned heads. From AI in healthcare to AI in finance, the message was clear – the UAE is embracing and driving the AI revolution.
Beyond AI, GITEX sprawled into 17 exhibition halls plus a dedicated startup arena (Expand North Star). The startup contingent. 2,000 strong, had their own moment as they pitched to 1,200+ investors managing $1.1 trillion in capital. This year saw especially large delegations from emerging tech ecosystems: countries like Brazil, Canada, Spain, Turkey, and others set up pavilions for the first time, signaling GITEX’s global pull Major themes included fintech (with dozens of blockchain and digital payment startups), climate tech, biotech, and smart cities solutions.
One underlying narrative of GITEX 2025 was that it symbolised the UAE’s digital economy ambitions. In remarks during the opening, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasised that the UAE aims to be “a global model in building an integrated digital economy driven by innovation and AI”, noting Dubai’s goal to raise the digital economy’s contribution to GDP to AED 100 billion by 2033. The GITEX platform, he said, creates “bridges of communication” for technology pioneers and helps form partnerships that will accelerate digital transformation.
A turning point for GITEX: Organisers confirmed that this 2025 edition is the last to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX’s home for decades. Starting next year, GITEX Global will move to Dubai Expo City’s Exhibition Centre (the site of Expo 2020) in order to accommodate its explosive growth. The new venue, set to host GITEX 2026 from December 7–11, 2026, is undergoing a $2.7 billion expansion to become the region’s largest indoor events space. With this move, GITEX will also reunite with Expand North Star (the startup event) in one location and introduce a revamped format that blends business with lifestyle experiences, including a concept of “TechCation” where visitors can engage with tech innovations citywide, not just on the expo floor.
For attendees and observers, GITEX 2025 was a whirlwind of innovation and networking, but its conclusion felt like the end of an era at DWTC. The sentiment was upbeat: Dubai successfully held the world’s largest tech event – again – and now boldly charts a new course to elevate it further. The legacy of GITEX 2025 will likely be remembered for its AI focus and the strategic decision to scale up for the future. As one tech CEO put it, “If you want to see where the digital future is headed, you come to GITEX in Dubai.” This October, that future was on full display.
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