GITEX Global 2025 wraps up in Dubai with global innovation, billion-dollar partnerships
New GITEX TechCation announced to launch at Expo City Dubai in 2026
DUBAI – The 45th edition of GITEX Global wrapped up in Dubai on Friday after a week of record-breaking participation, headline-making collaborations and breakthrough innovations across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, semiconductors and advanced data systems.
Held at Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Harbour, GITEX Global 2025 and its sister event Expand North Star drew more than 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups, and 1,200 investors from 180 nations. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the five-day event reaffirmed the UAE’s position as a global hub for digital transformation and innovation.
Among the most anticipated highlights was the landmark dialogue between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and G42 Group CEO Peng Xiao, who joined virtually to discuss “AI-Native Societies” – an exploration of how national strategies and cross-border collaborations are shaping the world’s AI-driven economies.
What defined this year’s edition?
The event’s programming centred on “future-critical sectors”, with new launches, live demonstrations and strategic dialogues spanning AI, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, quantum, digital health and biotechnology.
Ministers and policymakers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America joined packed sessions on AI ethics, trust and regulation – debating how to design laws for autonomous systems, defend against quantum-era threats and secure data sovereignty. The exchanges reflected a growing global consensus: nations are no longer spectators but co-architects in the age of artificial intelligence.
On the show floor, global tech enterprises including Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Google, Huawei, AMD, AWS, HPE, Salesforce, Alibaba Cloud, e&, G42 and Snowflake showcased infrastructure breakthroughs designed to power sovereign AI workloads and nation-scale intelligence.
How did startups and investors engage?
At Dubai Harbour, Expand North Star 2025 amplified the global startup pulse, connecting founders from more than 100 nations with investors managing over $1.1 trillion in assets. The four-day showcase concluded with the Supernova Challenge 2.0, one of the world’s largest startup competitions.
South Korea’s AIM Intelligence took the top prize of $100,000, while Chile’s Chucao Technology Consultants and Ecuador’s Aeiraloop secured second and third places respectively. The competition’s total prize pool reached $300,000, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a launchpad for startup expansion.
Brazil participated as the first “country partner”, led by ApexBrasil, bringing over 50 startups to highlight Latin America’s growing technology ties with the Middle East.
Across the harbour pavilions, visitors explored innovations from fintech and digital health to climate tech and mobility. eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft by Aridge and Archer Aviation drew strong attention, showcasing new frontiers in air mobility.
The biggest announcements
Throughout the week, GITEX witnessed a record number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) as governments and private enterprises signed new alliances for digital transformation.
Among the most significant deals was the partnership between Presight and Dubai Taxi Company to develop AI-driven solutions for smart and sustainable urban mobility. AWS and e& announced the ‘AI Nation – Afaaq’ initiative, a programme to train 30,000 people in AI and cloud technologies across the UAE.
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport unveiled 19 strategic partnerships in a single day, covering AI-powered public services, smart cities, real estate, and mobility ecosystems – the largest one-day commitment in the department’s participation history.
Where is GITEX headed next?
Following this year’s record-breaking success, DWTC announced major expansions for the global tech showcase. New GITEX editions will debut in Istanbul in 2026, followed by São Paulo and Belgrade in 2027 – part of DWTC’s mission to connect emerging markets with the global innovation ecosystem.
Meanwhile, in Dubai, GITEX will move from October to December starting next year, transforming into GITEX TechCation 2026 at Expo City Dubai. Scheduled for December 7-11, the new format blends technology, business and lifestyle by integrating citywide activations, cultural events and networking experiences for visiting executives and investors.
The show will open on December 7 with the new GITEX Scale Summit, dedicated to high-level strategic dialogues on global AI policy and innovation frameworks. From December 8-11, the exhibition will spotlight next-generation technologies across AI, quantum, biotechnology, semiconductors and biosciences – continuing Dubai’s evolution as a world capital for innovation.