The world’s largest technology and artificial intelligence event, GITEX GLOBAL 2025, opened today at the Dubai World Trade Centre to a packed audience, marking a milestone in its 45-year history.
Running from October 13 to 17, the event has drawn over 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups, 1,200 investors, and delegations from more than 180 countries, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation.
Global leaders discuss AI’s economic impact
At the main stage, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, delivered the opening keynote under the theme “The Race Beyond Innovation: AI, Geopolitics, and the Global Economic Reset.”
“The United Arab Emirates, thanks to the forward-looking vision of its wise leadership, is not merely participating in the global race for innovation; it is shaping its contours,” he said. “By building an economic model defined by resilience and a future orientation grounded in knowledge and advanced technology, the UAE strengthens its position at the forefront of the global economic landscape.”
Joining the discussion, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation at the European Commission, emphasized shared priorities with the UAE. “The European Union and the UAE share a vision to drive innovation that benefits our citizens,” she said. “We are aligned on the importance of startups and scaleups for our economies. This journey starts at GITEX 2025.”
In the “Intelligence Super-Cycle” panel, Hon. Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister for AI and Digital Innovation, and Amandeep Gill, UN Envoy for Digital Technologies, explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping economies worldwide. “GITEX is an absolutely core example of entrepreneurs being launched at a speed we’ve never seen,” said Solomon. “It’s fantastic to meet people, meet companies, and to see our profound partnership with the UAE deepen as we share this mission to transform AI from a trustworthy technology to one that is built for all.”
Andrew Feldman, CEO of Cerebras, also took the stage to reveal advances in supercomputing. “We built the largest chip in the history of the computing industry, the size of a dinner plate,” he said. “By going big on chips, we were able to keep more information on the chip and move it less. This meant less power was used, and the results were delivered more quickly.”
Tech giants unveil breakthroughs
On the exhibition floor, leading global companies showcased the future of cloud computing, mobility, and AI.
e& drew thousands with displays of cutting-edge mobility and robotics, including eVTOL aircraft prototypes, autonomous air taxis, and record-breaking electric vehicles capable of running thousands of kilometers on a single charge.
Oracle showcased new AI-powered business tools for finance, logistics, and operations, while BlackBerry launched a secure communications platform trusted by governments and major banks.
AWS, the world’s largest cloud provider, demonstrated advanced cybersecurity integrations, while HCL Software unveiled AI-driven customization, cybersecurity innovations, and endpoint management solutions.
This year also saw unprecedented global participation, with Brazil joining as Country Partner and debuting its largest-ever delegation. National pavilions from Canada, Spain, Türkiye, Chile, and Ecuador highlighted the event’s diverse international presence.
What’s next
Day two will feature a virtual conversation between Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, exploring the concept of “AI-Native Societies.” Other sessions will bring together leaders from Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, AIQ, Presight, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, further cementing GITEX GLOBAL 2025’s role as a driving force for the world’s digital future.
