GITEX GLOBAL 2025 closes a landmark 45th edition with record international participation and outcome-driven dialogues

GITEX GLOBAL 2025 wrapped up on Friday after a five-day surge of deal-making and groundbreaking unveilings across AI, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, quantum computing, digital health, and biotech. The event brought together more than 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups from 180 countries, and 1,200 investors at Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Harbour.

Amr Kamel, General Manager at Microsoft UAE, endorsed the event as a major force in guiding the UAE’s AI leadership. He said, “The UAE is at the forefront of digital transformation, and GITEX continues to be a powerful platform driving this journey forward. The country’s visionary leadership has created an environment where innovation thrives, from embracing AI responsibly to fostering a world-class digital ecosystem that attracts global collaboration and investment.”

Amr Kamel, General Manager at Microsoft UAE

Intelligence in Action: AI Leaders Shaping the Next Era

In one of the most anticipated sessions of the week, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, joined Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, for a landmark virtual discussion on designing AI-Native Societies—exploring how international partnerships are shaping the foundations of the global AI economy. 

During intense sessions, hundreds of ministers and senior government officials from the UAE, the European Union, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America discussed issues of trust, regulation, and sovereignty in the age of AI – from how to create laws for autonomous systems and defend against quantum-era threats to securing cross-border data flows. Their discussions signaled a global turning point: nations are no longer just keeping up with innovation; they are now the co-architects.

Biotech, Quantum, and Beyond: The Next Wave of Intelligence Unfolds

Future-critical sectors took center stage this year, with new launches and significant discussions happening across GITEX Quantum Expo, Physical AI, Semicon, Super Data Centers, and GITEX Digi Health & Biotech.

On the show floor and on stage, founders showcased next-generation innovations: smart contact lenses that estimate glucose levels from biomarkers, brain-computer implants decoding neural signals, and AI gene-editing technology reprogramming DNA for disease resistance. Meanwhile, global tech companies, chipmakers, and cloud innovators, including ai71, Alibaba Cloud, AMD, AWS, e&, G42, Google, HPE, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, and Snowflake, displayed infrastructure breakthroughs designed to support sovereign AI workloads and nation-scale intelligence.

Zaid Ghattas, General Manager, Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at AMD, said: “It has been a GITEX to remember for AMD, and we thank the Dubai World Trade Centre team for hosting another exceptional event. GITEX GLOBAL remains a vital opportunity to connect with our ecosystem and showcase our AI and computing portfolio. We look forward to GITEX 2026, reflecting the exciting digital growth in the UAE and the broader Middle East region.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, Miguel Vega, SVP – Database Platform & Cloud Infrastructure, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Oracle, commented: “At GITEX GLOBAL 2025, our focus on ‘Enterprise-Ready AI’ highlighted Oracle’s commitment to empowering the UAE’s AI-driven future.” He added: “We showcased how our distributed cloud and sovereign cloud capabilities are accelerating adoption for key national entities and celebrated the success of our customers and partners, whose groundbreaking AI initiatives powered by Oracle Cloud are shaping the region’s digital economy.”

Tareq Masoud, Country Manager UAE at Snowflake, further added, “GITEX GLOBAL 2025 has been an extraordinary opportunity for Snowflake to showcase how the AI Data Cloud is helping organizations turn data into real, measurable business value. This year, we’re helping organizations move beyond AI adoption and experimentation into driving real, measurable, and impactful business outcomes from their AI, helping them unlock new growth, drive innovation, and build the AI-driven data economies of the future.”

Cross-Sector Alliances Accelerate the Next Wave

A record number of MoUs were signed during the event, establishing new public-private partnerships for digital transformation. Some of the collaborations included Presight and Dubai Taxi Company working together to develop AI solutions to boost smart, sustainable urban transportation. AWS and e& launched an innovative nationwide program to train 30,000 people in AI and cloud technology across the UAE as part of the ‘AI Nation – Afaaq’ initiative. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport announced 19 strategic partnerships on day two alone, covering AI-powered public services, real estate, smart city, and mobility ecosystems—marking the largest single-day commitment in the government of Abu Dhabi’s historic participation at the event.

Chiara Marcati, Chief Advisory & Business Officer at ai71, said, “GITEX GLOBAL 2025 showcased ai71 at a pivotal moment. We demonstrated real AI transformation with the UAE Public Prosecution, announced our DGE partnership for global reach, and showed that Abu Dhabi is building AI that truly matters, advancing from demonstration to deployment.”100+ Nations, $1.1 Trillion Capital: A Global Nexus for Startup Growth

At Dubai Harbour, GITEX GLOBAL’s startup showcase, Expand North Star heightened the energy among startups and investors. Founders from over 100 countries connected with investors managing more than $1.1 trillion in assets. Cross-border partnerships and venture launches emerged instantly. The Supernova Challenge 2.0, with a total prize of $300,000, named Korea’s AIM Intelligence as the top winner, with second and third prize winners from Chile and Ecuador. This highlights GITEX’s growing role as the world’s largest platform for startup growth.

GITEX 5.0 in 2026: Launching the World’s First & Fabulous TechCation

In 2026, GITEX is set to reshape the global tech events calendar by launching the world’s first GITEX TechCation at its new home at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai. Taking place from December 7-11, 2026, TechCation marks a new chapter for the world’s largest tech and AI event, expanding GITEX beyond traditional exhibition halls into a citywide experience rooted in Dubai’s lifestyle, culture, and tourism season. 

GITEX TechCation aims to promote extended networking plans and longer stays, inviting international executives and investors to experience the city’s vibrant and varied attractions – from food to sports and wellness, from arts and culture to outdoor activities.

The show starts on December 7 with the new outcomes-focused GITEX Scale Summit for global leaders, featuring a dedicated day of high-level strategic discussions on key trends, opportunities, and policy frameworks shaping global AI economies. From December 8-11, the Expo showcases cutting-edge innovations across AI x 5.0 industries, from quantum to biosciences and semiconductors, to foster collaboration across future critical sectors.