For the final time this week, 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors, alongside governments from more than 180 countries—marking the highest-ever international participation—gathered in Dubai, along with 200,000 visitors, solidifying the city’s reputation as a premier global hub

The unparalleled event brought together the most influential names in technology from every corner of the globe, further cementing its position as the world’s largest and most impactful tech gathering.

This 44th edition of GITEX GLOBAL, held under the theme of ‘Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI Economy’, not only set new benchmarks for innovation and business opportunities but also reinforced the event’s critical role in shaping a technology landscape increasingly defined by AI adoption.

Over the five days, numerous Memorandum of Understanding agreements were announced, with these strategic deals set to accelerate the growth of the global AI market, projected to reach USD $1,339.1 billion by 2030, according to Markets and Markets.

With the inclusion of over 40% new nations – including South Africa, Puerto Rico, Vietnam, alongside Europe’s largest-ever presence – GITEX GLOBAL has paved the way to forge new cross-regional partnerships between leading and emerging tech nations that will accelerate the growth of the AI ecosystem even further.

Each day of the mega event focused on different themes – investment, cybersecurity, data centres, futuristic tech, and AI, reflecting the central pillars of the digital economy.

With the UAE welcoming the global ecosystem, GITEX GLOBAL has enhanced its position of being at the forefront of redefining the world’s digital landscape with many organisations praising the impact of the event and its focus on key trends.

Key Industry Impact and Strategic Outcomes at GITEX GLOBAL 2024

This week, top global players such as Oracle, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft, amongst several others, made significant strides in showcasing their latest innovations in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, edge computing, and other technologies. The event catalysed these industry giants to forge new partnerships, drive technological advancements, and contribute to the future of the global digital economy.

Nick Redshaw, Senior Vice President of Tech Cloud, Middle East and Africa, and UAE Country Leader at Oracle, highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s AI vision and how GITEX GLOBAL 2024 was pivotal for Oracle’s AI and cloud innovations. He said: “At GITEX, we celebrated 35 years of supporting the UAE’s growth ambitions with state-of-the-art local cloud infrastructure, latest cloud technologies, developing top talent, and expanding our local presence. Industry-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and multi cloud innovation that is geared to solve complex business challenges in every industry, and help accelerate the UAE and wider Middle East’s AI economy was Oracle’s key focus at GITEX GLOBAL 2024.”

At the event, Oracle announced significant collaborations, with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment to accelerate Dubai’s housing strategy using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and with Mashreq Bank to support its global expansion. These partnerships highlight how GITEX GLOBAL serves as a premier platform for unveiling strategic innovations and driving digital transformation across the region.

Dell Technologies was another tech giant to have a presence and reap the benefits of participating at GITEX GLOBAL. ​​Mohammed Amin, Senior Vice President, CEEMETA, Dell Technologies, said: “Over the last four decades, GITEX GLOBAL has been a catalyst for advancing technological innovation across the Middle East region. Dell Technologies has been a part of this growth for more than 30 years and being at GITEX allows us to connect with regional decision-makers and support them in navigating today’s rapidly changing business environment.

“This week, we had many encouraging discussions around the Dell AI Factory offerings. Our conversations with our regional customers revealed a strong commitment to AI. They have a clear vision and a solid strategy and are actively implementing innovative AI solutions to drive their business forward. At Dell, we are at the epicenter of our customers’ AI innovations and take pride in helping them become future forward in their AI journeys.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft capitalised on GITEX GLOBAL to highlight its impactful initiatives to enhance the global digital economy. Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, stated: “We are proud to have shared the results of our latest Cloud Dividend Snapshot report for the UAE, which underscores the critical role our globally trusted cloud ecosystem plays in driving economic growth and job creation across the nation. Additionally, our announcement of the AI National Skilling Initiative, launched at the show in partnership with key government departments, demonstrates our commitment to empowering individuals and organizations with the skills needed to thrive in the new AI era. I’m confident we will continue to witness strong business impact from GITEX Global for months to come.”

Catalysing Change Through Strategic Dialogues on Global Digital Transformation

This edition of GITEX GLOBAL served as a strategic platform to address pressing challenges and opportunities of AI, focusing on its application across critical sectors that shape the global digital future.

The event featured the first-ever World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit and the debut of GITEX Editions, spotlighting innovation, connecting top global unicorns, and fostering dialogue on AI regulation, economic strategies, and digital finance.

Cybersecurity emerged as a key topic, emphasising the need to secure digital infrastructure amid evolving cyber threats. Future mobility took centre stage, showcasing next-generation innovations like autonomous vehicles, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and AI advancements in the auto-tech industry.

AI\’s role in the development of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centers was a significant focus, reflecting the burgeoning demand for scalable solutions and the region’s rise as a hub for AI-powered data infrastructure. GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 also gathered industry leaders to explore how AI is revolutionizing patient care and reshaping the future of healthcare, highlighting the technology’s transformative potential in delivering improved outcomes.

Other discussions revolved around 5G and intelligent connectivity, EdTech, digital cities, and energy transitions. Together, these conferences showcased critical dialogues shaping the future of digital transformation on a global scale, featuring insights from industry visionaries – such as Jong-Soo Choi, CTO of Samsung Medical Centre in South Korea, Stéphane Ouaki Head of Department at the European Innovation Council (EIC), Dr. Mark Sagar, Co-Founder of Soul Machines from New Zealand, Heman Bekele, TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year, Valentyn S. Volkov, PhD, co-founder of XPANCEO, and renowned cybersecurity figure, Dr. Diane  Janosek, who served legal, policy & executive roles at the National Security Agency, White House & the Pentagon. Additionally, GITEX GLOBAL brought together ethical hacker, Inti De Ceukelaire, and Brett Johnson.

What’s Next?

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events. with upcoming GITEX AFRICA Morocco from 14-16 April and GITEX ASIA Singapore on 23-25 April. Following these, GITEX EUROPE Berlin will take place from 21-23 May 2025, leading to the debut of GITEX NIGERIA in September 2025, all part of its expanding portfolio. Each of these events will foster collaboration and drive innovation, shaping the tech landscape of tomorrow.

Looking ahead, GITEX GLOBAL is set to take place from 13-17 October 2025, promising another year of heightened innovation and cross-collaboration within the tech industry. In 2026, GITEX GLOBAL will relocate to Expo City Dubai, further expanding its reach and impact.

More information on GITEX GLOBAL, please visit www.gitex.com

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The ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ event saw a combination of thought-provoking conversations and exhibitors displaying their powerful products and services that will revolutionise the world in the coming years. It comes at a time where GSMA projects a seismic shift in connectivity with 1.4 billion devices set to be linked with 5G by 2025, further fueling a USD $1.1 trillion IoT market within a USD $3.9 trillion mobile economy.

The expertly curated programme brought together some of the most influential voices from global enterprises and organisations including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President, NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei China and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at ITU Switzerland. They were also joined by Roque Lozano, SVP, Network Infrastructure MEA at Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi, President and CEO of NTT Research and SG Chung, Chief AI Global Officer at SK Telecom.

Away from the stage, the showcase featured a diverse range of impressive technologies from leading exhibitors, Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon among them. These industry giants presented cutting-edge solutions, highlighting next-generation 5G applications with their participation underscoring GITEX GLOBAL’s role as a key platform for exploring the future of connectivity and digital transformation.

A glimpse into a 5G-advanced powered AI future

With 5G and AI on a verge to catalyse a paradigm shift in the telecommunications landscape, Khalid Murshed Chief Technology & Information Officer of e&, one of the largest telecommunications operators in the Middle East and North Africa region, explained the transformative impact of network capabilities.

He said: “5G and 5G advanced serve as a platform for everyone to come in to innovate with applications that can drive demand for the network to be enhanced further and further.”

“We have to build a network with the capabilities and then fit in the AI applications and this is what we’re doing hand-in-hand. We’re not just building a network for the sake of technology leadership. It’s a bilateral game by all means and we are building them to enable new cases while today we have live networks and private 5G.”

Another leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei identifies several key technologies as the backbone of its solutions towards facilitating an intelligent future. 5G-Advanced (5G-A) remains vital to supporting rapid and low-latency communication – critical for building advanced applications, in addition to big, unified data, AI, and cloud computing.

AI and 5G fuelling the future of autonomous vehicles

The future of mobility and how autonomous vehicles can benefit from 5G was another highlight. Speaking in a panel, Siyuan Liu, Head of IoT Partnership & Strategy, Greater China, at China Unicom Global, said the company is accelerating its efforts into the AI and vehicle connectivity industries with 5G playing a central role.

She highlighted that 5G is vital for the growth of autonomous vehicles, reshaping society and helping make accurate decisions – all of which can enhance the efficiency of transportation and safety.

Large Language Models (LLMs) are disrupting industries all over the world and the telecommunications sector is no different. Wang Hui, President of Huawei NCE Data Communication Domain, highlighted that AI applications are being leveraged extensively in China’s autonomous vehicles and in AI health services.

Unleashing powerful innovations – superpower agent and all-electric supercar

Thousands of visitors were introduced to the most disruptive products and services powered by 5G in the most anticipated exhibition which attracted the leading tech enterprises and solution providers in telecoms, networks, and infrastructure. Attendees were not short of innovation options with game-changing partnerships and launches unveiled during the event.

e& announced a collaboration with Vodafone Business IoT to use the company’s Global SIM+ eSIM solution to provide in-vehicle connectivity and enhanced digital services for Mercedes-Benz AG drivers in the UAE. The service will be commercially available in the first half of 2025.

The company also displayed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric high-performance supercar, connected through e& UAE 5G SIM cards delivering the ultimate in-driving experience, and launched their new human-digital advisors, combining hologram technology and AI to cater to the diverse cultural nuances of Telecom customers in the UAE.

At Avaya’s stand, visitors saw how the company is creating superpower agents, powered by AI, showcasing new capabilities which can assist individuals to make scalable decisions that help businesses grow.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX Nigeria, all part of its portfolio. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

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The conference programme underscored the far-reaching implications of AI in data infrastructure, a driving force behind the rapidly expanding billion-dollar global market., while leading enterprises captivated the audience with their innovative solutions, showcasing the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centres.

As businesses increasingly turn to AI, the global data centre market is projected to reach USD $256 billion by the end of this year and will rise to USD $775 billion by 2034.

GITEX GLOBAL serves as a critical platform for industry leaders to engage in discussions that highlight the urgent need for enhanced and scalable data centres, essential for supporting the burgeoning AI-driven demand.

Driving Job Opportunities And Benefiting Society

On “Data Centres Universe”, conversations focused on how hyperscale, edge, and modular data centres can contribute to the growth in the presence of the sector’s biggest names. Major players, including Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo, convened to share their perspectives on the evolving trajectory of the industry, explore potential avenues for accelerated growth, and underscore the critical role of expansion in catalyzing global ambitions for AI-driven innovation.

Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, the MENA region’s largest hyperscale wholesale data centre provider, explained during a panel discussion that more data centres not only boost the market’s growth but also build capacity, supporting talent development, and fostering employment to meet the increasing demand.

He said: “A lot of people think that data centres are not a job creation machine. However, data centres are vital for economies and have different roles involved. If you look at all the hyperscales, their data centres are having a huge impact on the economy as people can secure jobs which are vital for the day-to-day operations.”

As the conversation shifted toward the future of data centres, industry experts emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in their development as the industry’s advancements enable the next-generation of tech solutions and services.

Marc Marazzi, Vice President of Legrand Data Center Solutions, shared his perspective on the need for careful planning and environmental responsibility in this rapidly expanding market. He believes the industry will go from strength to strength but organisations must exercise caution in their decision-making when building data centres taking into account long-term considerations of how the world will evolve over the next decade.

He said: “It’s great to see many taking the green initiative very seriously and looking at the way they are building and cooling data centres. Today, they are bigger than ever before and being built faster but we must not lose sight of the importance of how we manufacture, what we are installing and how they are managed. Data Centres are built with 15 years in mind and we have to think what they would look like in a specific time and get it right from the beginning.”

What Next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?

As GITEX GLOBAL comes to a close on Friday, ‘Futuristic Friday’ promises to feature groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech, all poised to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the tech landscape.

Taking place from 14-18 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX GLOBAL is recognized as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event. This year presents a record-breaking 44th edition – welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

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Expand North Star 2024, the world’s largest startup and investment event, concluded today, breaking records in international participation and cementing the UAE’s position as the global nexus for technological innovation. The four-day major event attracted 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors managing assets exceeding $1 trillion, 59 unicorns, and thousands of visitors from over 100 countries, transforming Dubai Harbour into a bustling hub of cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking ideas.

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the powerhouse showcase reached the mark of 13,000 concierge-arranged meetings and 88% of startups participating for the first time, offering unrivaled networking opportunities.

Global Innovators Shine at Expand North Star

Expand North Star 2024 became a global innovation hub, bringing startups from all corners of the world, from Europe, Asia, Africa, and as far as Latin America, as they showcased next-gen technologies—from AI and quantum computing to sustainable transport and digital health solutions.

Debuting at the event, Austria’s CycloTech GmbH introduced CycloRotors, a sustainable, electrically powered propulsion system for air mobility vehicles, promising unmatched maneuverability.

German-based Clockin offered small businesses a simple digitalisation tool for managing time tracking, employee data, and product management. Fabian Ebbert, CSO, Clockin, said: “Our tech is best for companies with deskless workforce of about 50 employees and provides solutions like time tracking, employee management, and job cost management. We came to ENS to understand if there is a need for our product in the UAE, and it seems like ample small companies haven’t digitalised their processes yet. So, if things work out well with our new partners, we will expand here.”

From South Korea, EYL Inc. presented its Quantum Random Number Generation chip, strengthening IoT security by generating powerful encryption keys. Meanwhile, Physio showcased an AI-powered device for predicting and managing neurodegenerative diseases.

UAE’s Wamda AI wowed with its Sharp Vision camera system, mirroring human vision and extending operational range by up to 100 times, revolutionising industries like security and smart cities.

AI Sparks Interesting Conversations on Human Creativity at Marketing Mania

As AI reshapes media and marketing, big questions loom about the future of human creativity. One of the panels highlighted how consumers must discern quality with an exponential growth in content creators and AI expected to disrupt the industry.

Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder & Executive Chairman of S4 Capital plc, UK​, took it further and said: “Media planning and buying business will turn upside down. There are almost 250,000 people in the big firms who will not have jobs in the next three years for two reasons: Their tasks are relatively inefficient, and the second is a lack of transparency.” He closed with a compelling takeaway: “Learn three languages- Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and Code.”

This year also saw the debut of Sonar+D Creative Summit, set up in partnership with Sonar, which brought in a host of technological proposals in an exhibition space.

Prominent speakers across the show discussed the future of creativity. Among those that took to the stage were, Neil Patel, Co-founder, NP Digital, USA; Mayank Yadav, Director of Product, Reddit, USA; Andrea Faroppa, Head, Sonar+D, Spain; and Prashant Saran, Director -Operations, Amazon, UAE.

GITEX GLOBAL Paves Way for the Evolution of Deep Tech

Fully aligned with GITEX GLOBAL, Expand North Star placed deep tech at the heart of its discussions. Thomas Debass, Chief Partnership Officer at the US State Department was among the speakers who emphasises the importance of deep tech. He said: “This platform is a public-private partnership in action. The Government of Dubai is hosting the world, and what impresses me most is Dubai’s vision for the future. This is where the Museum of the Future exists—not just as a symbol but as a challenge to think about what’s next. Deep tech feels like the distant future, yet GITEX is making it happen now, even expanding into Morocco.”

Tech Transfer 3.0: Bridging Innovation and Real Innovation

Powered by Deep Tech MENA and GIE (Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship), Expand North Star also launched Tech Transfer 3.0, a platform bringing together research institutes and scientists to turn breakthrough innovations into tangible products. Attendees had the chance to get up close with cutting-edge prototypes and demos from leading institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Tech, MIT, IE, and Georgia Tech. These showcased AI based concepts and STEM research initiatives, fueling the transformation to real world applications.

Spectacular Finale: Holo by Eric Prydz

As Expand North Star 2024 now concluded, the tech fever continues with GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech and startup event, which is running until Friday. Swedish DJ Eric Prydz will take the stage at Expo City Arena on 18 October for the grand finale, debuting his spectacular HOLO show in Dubai. This immersive audio-visual experience will blend Prydz’s iconic beats with eye-catching 3D hologram, closing out a week of celebrating technology.

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Taking place from 14-18 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX GLOBAL is the world’s largest and best-rated tech event. It presents a record-breaking 44th edition in 2024 – welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

Wednesday saw tens of thousands of visitors examine first-hand how Abu Dhabi charting a course to the future AI economy – with local enterprises and startups at the forefront of progression. In line with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the UAE National Strategy for AI 2031, the local tech community – home to over 400 specialist AI companies – illustrated its unwavering commitment to boosting AI-backed socio-economic development.

Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi’s innovative products

The Abu Dhabi government showcased an innovative lineup of next-generation solutions, including GovGPT. Based on an AI-driven knowledge agent, GovGPT will assist Abu Dhabi government employees with access to various AI tools, guiding them towards governmental policies and essential information almost instantaneously.

Also unveiled was TAMM 3.0, an integrated platform offering a diverse range of AI-enabled government services alongside personalised experiences for users. Accompanied by over 800 seamless services, TAMM 3.0 powered by AI and features conversational voice capabilities, allowing users to interact through voice commands in Arabic and English.

Presenting next-gen police 4×4, autonomous racing car, and AI-assisted chest X-rays

Elsewhere, attendees witnessed the future of mobility as Abu Dhabi Police unveiled its autonomous 4×4 bulletproof patrol vehicle, the ‘Magnum MK1’. Boasting a 1.5 tonne payload capacity, this stylish car is designed for patrol, surveillance, and secure transport of detainees and can reach top speeds of 150km/h.

Among its standout features are advanced surveillance including 360-degree camera coverage, and a bespoke prisoner cell and monitoring system, showcasing a leap forward in digitalisation.

The Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) displayed its upgraded EAV24, next-generation autonomous race car, which will hit the iconic Yas Marina Circuit track in next April’s Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, centred around AI innovation.

The model is made up of sustainable bio-composite materials and features a sleek design inspired by digital algorithms and AI-driven data patterns.

ATRC also owns VentureOne, the dynamic commercialization arm, turning applied research from the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) into game-changing commercial products and solutions that address industry challenges worldwide.

Reda Nidhakou, Acting CEO, VentureOne, said: “VentureOne is dedicated to bringing the Technology Innovation Institute’s groundbreaking tech to market through ambitious tech ventures — from research to reality, and from Abu Dhabi to the world. At GITEX, we showcased AI71, a venture that develops enterprise AI solutions powered by open-source AI models with a focus on TII’s Falcon. We’ll be announcing three more exciting ventures in the coming months — we look forward to putting the power of AI, post-quantum cybersecurity, and autonomous robotics into the hands of as many people as possible.”

It comes at a time where TII is driving generative AI with the Falcon 180B one of its super-powerful large language models, which is at the top of the Hugging Face Leaderboard for pre-trained open Large Language Models (LLM).

Meanwhile, Capital Health Screening Centre backed by M42, an Abu Dhabi head-quartered global tech-enabled health powerhouse announced at GITEX GLOBAL they will perform
2,000 AI-assisted chest X-rays to screen for TB – a 10-fold increase compared with traditional methods.

As the world’s largest and best-rated tech event, GITEX GLOBAL 2024 is opening new opportunities for enterprises and governments to forge new partnerships and embark on future-focused tech projects across key industries.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with a stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering global collaboration and cross-continental innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

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Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced at GITEX Global 2024, the world’s largest technology event, Emirates Transport and Al Ghurair Motors, agreed to collaborate on the exploration and promotion of alternative-fuel commercial vehicles.

The partnership will evaluate the feasibility of these sustainable vehicles and execute pilot projects for their use and aims to foster innovation and position the UAE as a leader in sustainable transportation technologies.

The testing of commercial hydrogen and electric commercial vehicles by Emirates Transport is a significant development in the fuel’s usage in the UAE and a major step towards integrating hydrogen technology into the company’s national fleet.

As Emirates Transport is the UAE’s leading provider of school transport, vehicle rental and other public transport services, operating over 32,000 vehicles, introducing green fuel is a key part of its strategy, and is fully aligned with the UAE’s goal of making half of all vehicles on the road electric by 2050.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are also being promoted as an important step to reducing transport emissions and meeting the UAE’s strategic objective of reaching net zero by 2050.

The pilot projects will be performed with hydrogen and electric-powered commercial vehicles, serving Emirates Transport’s clients in business, government, and the public. The longer-term aim is to integrate increasing numbers of alternative-fuel vehicles into the fleet.

Under the MoU, Al Ghurair Motors, with the support of the manufacturer, will provide comprehensive technical training to Emirates Transport staff, making sure they are given the new skills necessary to operate and maintain the hydrogen and electric commercial vehicles.

Emirates Transport has more than 46 workshops across the UAE, and they will all be equipped to perform maintenance on these vehicles, with mechanics fully prepared to support the integration and expansion of these advanced technologies.

The partnership includes a mutual commitment to explore and develop infrastructure, such as electric vehicle (EV) charging & hydrogen fueling technology, to support the pilot projects with the aim of scaling up in the future.

Dominic Hagerty, Emirates Transport’s Chief Transport and Lease Officer said the MOU represented a new era of collaboration to bring eco-friendly transport solutions to the UAE’s roads.

“The research and feasibility studies that will be conducted with Al Ghurair Motors demonstrate the willingness of the two parties to align with governmental sustainability goals, contribute to policy development and set the stage for national infrastructure advancements,” he said.

“This alliance underscores a shared dedication to environmental responsibility, enhances customer experience, improves operational efficiency and contributes to economic diversification and job creation, thereby reinforcing the UAE’s broader objectives for sustainable development and innovation in green technology.”

Oscar Rivoli, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ghurair Motors, said advanced sustainable commercial vehicles would be key to helping the UAE reach its net-zero goals.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Emirates Transport to test the feasibility of using electric and hydrogen technologies in commercial vehicles for their extensive services.

“As the technology of these vehicles improves, we must also work together to ensure the training, maintenance and infrastructure that supports these new technologies is tested and implemented to help us reach the UAE’s important sustainability goals.”

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Integrated with GITEX GLOBAL, Expand North Star runs until 16 October, providing a powerful platform for over 1,800 exhibiting startups and more than 1,200 investors managing assets exceeding USD $1 trillion.

Applied AI and Deep Tech Innovations Redefine Healthcare and Space Innovation

Day three was a showcase of next-generation solutions in robotics, AI, and deep tech, providing a glimpse into the future of these sectors.

Cutting through the noise were innovative startups such as China’s RoboCT with their innovative exoskeleton technology, launching the UGo Rehab Exoskeleton, specifically designed for patients with lower-limb dysfunction, spinal cord injury, strokes, or cerebral palsy. Dr. Tian Wang, Founder and CEO of RoboCT Group, stated, “UGo enhances the rehabilitation process and delivers an effective walking training solution by integrating advanced sensors, data analysis, and research, empowering patients to rehabilitate more effectively at home.”

On the digital health frontier, JADE introduced a platform tailored for neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD, down syndrome, and autism. The app’s sophisticated tracking of eye movements, cognitive response times, and memory functions equips healthcare professionals and educators with precise data to create personalised care and learning strategies.

Meanwhile, scanO, a pioneering Indian-born deep tech company, is leading the way in developing generative AI models for predicting disease progression. The company showcased its flagship product, scanO air—the world’s first contactless AI-powered robotic system for oral health screening—revolutionizing early detection and diagnosis.

In space technology sector, Triggers-Reports from Mauritius introduced Triggers-sat, a satellite platform that provides high-resolution imaging and 3D modeling to assist businesses and governments in areas such as natural resource management and climate risk disaster monitoring.

Rising International Participation from Asia and Latin America 

As the global innovation hub, Expand North Star continues to see international participation rise, showcasing how regions and countries are pushing boundaries with novel solutions.

Tatiana Riera, COO of ApexBrasil, highlighted Brazil’s expanding presence at Expand North Star: “From just 20 startups in 2019, we have expanded to 45 startups this year, along with four innovation hubs. Brazil is a great hub for fintech because of the diversity in social levels, so most of our unicorns come from fintech. We also focus a lot on Deep Tech, AI, and climate tech solutions since we have six biomes and need to take care of them. We have a company that uses natural foam to build soundproof material for construction and another company building silent tractors that run on renewable energy.”

Similarly, Singapore’s SGTech made a noteworthy debut at Expand North Star, emphasizing the importance of cross-border collaboration in driving tech-driven solutions forward. Alex Ng, Exco Member, SGTech said: “Singapore’s innovative startups are making a significant impact at Expand North Star 2024, with six outstanding companies exhibiting under the Singapore Pavilion. These companies showcase cutting-edge technologies across various sectors, including digital twins, industrial AI and biotech, with the event serving as a groundbreaking global launchpad for startups to foster valuable networking with investors.\”

Africa’s Path to Economic Growth

With global participation continuing to flourish, the spotlight also turned towards Africa, where burgeoning tech ecosystems are paving the way for a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators. H.E. Savannah Maziya, Minister, Ministry of Information, Communications & Technology, Eswatini, alongside other thought leaders, emphasised the importance of structured development to tackle unique market challenges and unlock Africa’s economic potential.

Celina Lee, CEO & Co-Founder, Zindi, South Africa, highlighted the trend of talent returning to Africa to start companies and create ecosystems that foster innovation and attract global corporations like Microsoft to set up labs in Ghana and Nairobi.

Speaking on the challenges facing Africa, Olatunbosun Alake, Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Lagos State Government, Nigeria, said, \”The greatest challenge in Africa is education. In Nigeria, if you look at the most educated parts, they show economic value, whereas in the north, where education levels are not as high, economic productivity is lower. There needs to be an African Renaissance of education funding across the board because if you drive education, educate, and enlighten people, people will change the environment.”

Across its four-day span, Expand North Star continues to shed light on the future of industries through defining events such as GITEX Impact, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania. These events underscore how emerging technologies are transforming the way we live and are also playing a pivotal role in reshaping the future.

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Transformative health tech solutions were at the heart of conversations at GITEX GLOBAL’s GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 Dubai, where thousands of tech enthusiasts and healthcare pioneers converged at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for a day of future health discussions.

The world’s largest tech event provided a platform to showcase the latest AI-driven digital health and health tech solutions, spotlighting innovations that are reshaping patient care on a global scale.

The event aligns with the UAE government’s pioneering efforts to advance the digital health ecosystem, with the UAE’s digital health market projected to reach USD $487.30 million by the end of this year. The show also supports Dubai’s commitment to adopting digital practices that benefit medical professionals and patients alike.

With AI-powered healthcare investments projected to make up 20% of global healthcare spending by year’s end, GITEX GLOBAL set the stage for industry leaders to explore how AI is revolutionising delivery and enhancing outcomes for millions of patients.

GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 Dubai brought together global professionals and leaders to build on that figure and discuss the impact the innovative tool is having on the day-to-day operations while also providing an outlook of what the future would hold. It attracted some of the biggest names in the global landscape including labs such as Biogen, Roche and Sanofi as well as tech giants Microsoft, M42, Lenovo. Also present were established medical institutions including Samsung Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Roche and many more.

Pioneering Robotic and AI in Digital Health

The evolving role of robotics in health tech was a major focus of the showcase and conference programme. Denis Ledenkof, Founder of Robosculptor, showcased how AI-powered robotics is transforming patient care via an autonomous platform for body treatments developed by health industry experts, emphasising robotic technology is providing plenty of benefits.

He said: “AI is a powerful tool and is leading to better patient preferences. When it comes to robotic treatments, they help improve the experience of patients by just giving them access to a wider range of therapies as well as enhancing accessibility.

“One example that we’re using is an application that functions similarly to a taxi or delivery app where people can scan for treatments and displays the information that users would be looking for.”

Alex Aliper, Co-Founder and President of Insilico Medicine, a Hong Kong digital health unicorn – was part of another panel that delved into genomics. He discussed how precision medicine, powered by AI, is revolutionising genetic profiles – an approach set to transform treatments for diseases previously deemed incurable.

The future of AI in neurology

Meanwhile, following a study which showed that AI can reduce the risk of new vascular events by 25.6% in stroke patients, Aneesh Singhal, M.D, Director, Comprehensive Stroke Center & Vice-Chair of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, gave an overview of what to expect in the field of neurology.

In his presentation, he discussed the Golden Bridge II trial, which showed that the use of an AI-based clinical decision support system had a significantly greater impact on the number of vascular events and stroke care quality than standard care in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Elsewhere, Jong-Soo Choi, Chief Technology Officer at Samsung Medical Centre, one of Korea’s most renowned hospitals, shared insights into cutting-edge technologies such as Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and gene therapy and how they are setting the stage for the next wave of change.

Smart lens among innovations unveiled

Dubai’s own deep tech company Xpanceo made waves with the unveiling of smart contact lens for 3D imaging, and another for data reading, demonstrating wireless data transmission capabilities integrated directly into the lens. These innovations are set to redefine the boundaries of how data in real time is perceived, pushing the digital health landscape into a new era of smart diagnostics.

Oracle Health also displayed its innovative Clinical Digital Assistant. Leveraging AI-powered driven voice recognition, the assistant autonomously documents physician-patient encounters, interprets the information, and accurately inputs a draft note into the Oracle Health EHR, allowing the physician to quickly review and approve the clinical documentation.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA all part of its portfolio. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

GITEX GLOBAL this year announced the launch of GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 Expo-Summit in Thailand, from 10-12 September 2025, in a destination touted with one of the highest potentials to leapfrog the digital health industry, putting the spotlight on digital solutions to address the rising demands across Asia.

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The latest addition to the packed schedule comes at a vital time where statistics showed there were more than 1,000 unicorns around the world in 2023. This week’s showcase will help support the next development while bringing together 59 top global unicorns with a combined valuation of $400 billion. The impressive list to have gathered includes Axelera, DeepL Synthesis AI, and Insilico Medicine.

In one of the sessions, the Founder and CEO of digital health unicorn Insilico Medicine, Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov joined Tamer Elhamy, Chief Partner Officer of Microsoft Middle East to discuss the importance of Merger and Acquisitions (M&A) and how AI companies are making their foundational models work smarter for enterprises.

The audience heard that the Middle East region is leading the way with digitalisation with more than 300 deals related to M&A completed in the first half of 2024 with half of those led by the UAE.

Scaling GCC business globally

The staging of GITEX Editions aligns with Dubai’s ambition to be the home of 30 startup unicorns by 2030 as the emirate continues to transform itself from a regional to a global entrepreneurship hub and support its digital ambitions. Today, Dubai is embarking on its journey with 40% of MENA’s scaleups already based in the emirate.

To help nurture the growth of tomorrow’s giants in the GCC region, Harrison Lung, Group Chief Strategy Officer of e& was joined by Tanuja Randery, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in an insightful session that focused on the importance of collaboration.

Harrison Lung explained the importance of joining hands to forge stronger alliances. He said: “For us, it’s more about a transformation towards a global technology company. In the areas of partnering, the idea is to develop a win-win proposition and solving the needs of customers.”

With the region growing rapidly, Tanuja Randery said there is no better time than now for companies to enter the market and agrees collaboration is crucial. She said: “This region is so attractive in terms of the growth potential. I read a stat that showed that almost 70 per cent of businesses in the Middle East want to move most of their operations to the Cloud in two years’ time and this could unlock USD $733 billion of economic value by 2033. To make Cloud make accessible, we need partners and alliances.”

Driving investments for startups

Funding is a key pillar to drive growth – both in the long and short-term but can be often challenging. Steven Hoffman, Venture Investor, Author; and Chairman & CEO of Founders Space, gave key advice on how startups should adopt a vertical growth strategy for the future.

He said: “There is a lot of money going into AI but most of that is going into a handful of companies which are dominating the market and this is impacting the growth of startups. As such, a lot of money is now going into vertical AI where the specialist area is only on one focus such as healthcare or hospitality and this is centred around this business model and adding AI on top of this.”

In another session, Kai Zenner, Head of Office & Digital Policy Advisor of EU Parliament and Dr. Agostino Ghiglia, Board Member of the Italian Data Protection Authority took part in a broader discussion on the AI EU Act and its global implications for the next generation of AI-driven unicorns.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until 18 October, GITEX GLOBAL presents its biggest, most international edition in its 44th year, welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events. Today, major events such as GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA are under its umbrella with all fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

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GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech event, got underway at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), as topics on ‘Tech Investment Day’ centred around the next-gen semi-conductors market, which is expected to be valued USD $1 trillion by 2030, and the future of data governance. The mega event is under the theme of ‘Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI Economy’.

The World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit comes at a time where UAE is accelerating its efforts in adopting AI in different sectors. Last year, the country’s AI market was valued at USD $3.47 billion. H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member & Minister of Economy at UAE’s Ministry of Economy, explained the importance of AI and how it is central to the country’s economic future.

Addressing the audience, he highlighted AI is a major driver for the future and is already impacting our everyday lives whether it is transportation or ordering food but to propel growth even further across different sectors, people and companies need to learn how to enable AI effectively.

This year’s GITEX GLOBAL has attracted its largest international participation with 40% growth, welcoming new nations to the 44th edition of the showpiece event. Europe has a major presence this week, the biggest in the event’s history with the region’s tech industry projected to grow by 12% by the end of this year.

Stephane Ouaki, Head of Department at European Innovation Council outlined how the continent is accelerating its tech ecosystem. He said the Council is supporting game-changing innovations, giving entrepreneurs access to opportunities to enhance their knowledge, and learn from other professionals to boost the growth of their businesses which benefits not only economies nationally but also regionally.

Ignacy Niemczycki, Undersecretary of State Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland, delivered a presentation on how the country is embracing technology. He said: “Our culture is a key pillar in our journey of being a tech leader and we have a stable economy which has been very resilient for the last 30 years.

“More importantly, there is a real interest in the STEM field – if you ask most people in Poland, their choice would be to become an software engineer and this has created a situation where we have one of the best IT programmers in the world with some great tech entrepreneurs already from Poland.”

Attendees also heard from Dr. Jaroslaw Kutylowski, the founder and CEO of DeepL a German-leading global language AI company, on how his business utilises large language models (LLMs). He said: “The models that we have been building have all stayed true to our products which has brought us success so far. As the company has been growing, we have been able to invest more into compute technologies and have built a data centre facility in Sweden. However, we need to keep innovating and see what the next step is. If we do not think ahead, we would be in the same position as we are today.”

Meanwhile, Heman Bekele, who was named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for inventing a potential treatment for skin cancer, shared his inspiring story. He explained how the failures that he experienced in life in producing his innovative soap product has made him a stronger individual and passion has a been a key attribute to his career success so far.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until 18 October, GITEX GLOBAL presents its biggest, most international edition in its 44th year, welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting with world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

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