GITEX Global 2024 Heralds A New Era Of Tech

This year's edition of GITEX Global, themed "Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI Economy," established new standards for innovation and business opportunities, while also helping shape a technology ecosystem increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. 

The 44th edition of GITEX Global, which ran from October 14-18, 2024, drew 200,000 visitors, over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors, alongside governments from more than 180 countries. The five-day event – which included Expand North Star, Future Blockchain Summit, GITEX Impact, Fintech Surge, and Marketing Mania – saw strategic deals and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) that are poised to drive the growth of the global AI market, which is projected to hit US$1.3 billion by 2030, according to Markets and Markets. Each day of the mega event spotlighted different themes, ranging from investment, cybersecurity, and data centers to futuristic tech and AI.   

Key Highlights And Impact At GITEX Global 2024 

Major tech companies like Oracle, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft, along with several others, presented their latest innovations in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, edge computing, and various other technologies.  

At the event, Oracle revealed major partnerships, including one with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment to enhance Dubai’s housing strategy through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and another with Mashreq Bank to assist in its global expansion.  

Microsoft also showcased significant initiatives at GITEX GLOBAL, which aim to strengthen the global digital economy. Naim Yazbeck, general manager of Microsoft UAE, remarked, “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.”   

Dell Technologies' senior vice president for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (CEEMETA), Mohammed Amin, added, “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."

Fostering Change Through Digital Transformation Dialogues 

This edition of GITEX Global tackled key challenges and opportunities in AI, emphasizing its application in crucial sectors that will define the global digital future. 

GITEX Global 2024 featured the inaugural World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit, which explores the future of global technology investments. This year's edition also introduced GITEX Editions, an event aimed at developing strategies to enhance scale and global governance for rapidly growing companies. 

Both events highlighted innovation, brought together leading global unicorns, and encouraged discussions on AI regulation, economic strategies, and digital finance. 

Cybersecurity At The Forefront 

Cybersecurity became a central focus at this year’s edition of GITEX Global, underscoring the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure against emerging cyber threats.  

GITEX Global 2024 gathered key players from the cybersecurity ecosystem to discuss the evolving landscape of digital threats. Courtesy of GITEX Global 2024.

With global cybercrime losses expected to hit $10.5 trillion each year by 2025, the international tech community is committed to sparking a significant change through renewed efforts. This collective mindset was prominently showcased at GITEX Global, where leading chief information security officers (CISOs), chief information officers (CIOs), and governance, risk, and compliance professionals came together with a shared goal: to create the strongest defense against cyber threats worldwide. 

HE Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE Government, announced that the country has neutralized millions of threats this year, while also hailing as a "game-changer" in driving the industry’s cyber recovery.

He stated during the GITEX Tech Waves Podcast, “Cyber awareness is crucial – and AI is changing the game. The UAE is a financial hub that faced 71 million attacks in Q1 2024. We are resilient and thwarted these with early threat detection through AI. It’s a hugely beneficial technology alongside our great partnerships with the world.” 

The event also saw Todd Conklin, the chief AI officer and deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection at the US Department of the Treasury, underscore the positive aspects of AI. While he acknowledged the threats that arise from its potential exploitation by malicious individuals, Conklin noted, “The US Treasury runs the largest payments ecosystem in the entire world. We’ve leveraged AI models to reduce fraud by almost $600 million in the last six months. It’s becoming increasingly critical in the counter-fraud space.” 

Dr. Aloysius Cheang, CISO of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, shares Huawei's approaches and practices in AI security governance. Courtesy of Dr. Aloysius Cheang.

Huawei showcased its infrastructure and cloud technology solutions, with Dr. Aloysius Cheang, CISO for Huawei in the Middle East and Central Asia, highlighting the alarming frequency of cyber-attacks globally. Emphasizing the need for businesses to adopt robust security measures, he stated: “Huawei is attacked 12 billion times a day on average. This is why cybersecurity is positioned as a very strategic asset within our company. Organizations must build a cybersecurity culture through a security-first, privacy-first approach – and their solutions must serve their purpose of protecting digital assets.” 

The event also featured demonstrations and presentations by cybersecurity firms like Kaspersky and Fortinet. The Saudi Telecom Company (STC) also demonstrated the emerging technologies that are being leveraged to provide new value to customers. 

On the third day of GITEX Global 2024, GITEX Cyber Valley, hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council, featured numerous activations, showcases, and conferences. One session featured Brett Johnson, a former fugitive turned cybercrime expert, who shared his life story and insights into the virtual underworld during "Scamming the Scammer: Inside the Mind of a Cybercriminal."  

Additionally, the Dark Stage hosted Live Hacks, where ethical hackers demonstrated AI-driven hacks, and Santiago Lopez, the world’s first million-dollar hacker, offered exclusive advice on transforming hacking skills into a profitable career during the session "Face to Face with the #1 Million Dollar Hacker: Who Wants to Be a Hacking Millionaire?" 

5G and Intelligent Connectivity 

The one-day "Intelligent Connectivity" event included dynamic discussions and highlighted exhibitors showcasing innovative products and services set to transform the industry. This aligns with the GSMA’s prediction of a significant connectivity evolution, forecasting that 1.4 billion devices will connect to 5G by 2025, driving a $1.1 trillion internet of things (IoT) market within a $3.9 trillion mobile economy. 

Thought-provoking conversation on 5G and AI emerged as the focal point at GITEX Global 2024. Courtesy of GITEX Global 2024.

Alongside the discussions, exhibitors such as Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon displayed advanced 5G solutions.  

Huawei identified key technologies like 5G-Advanced (5G-A), unified data, AI, and cloud computing as crucial for facilitating fast, low-latency communication and advanced applications. 

Khalid Murshed, chief technology and information officer at e&, a top telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the transformative potential of network advancements driven by 5G and AI. 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.” 

The event highlighted the importance of 5G in the future of mobility. Siyuan Liu, head of IoT partnership and strategy for Greater China at China Unicom Global, spoke about the company's progress in AI and vehicle connectivity. Wang Hui, president of Huawei NCE Data Communication Domain, highlighted that AI applications are transforming various sectors, including autonomous vehicles and AI healthcare services in China. 

e& announced a collaboration with Vodafone Business IoT to provide in-vehicle connectivity and enhanced digital services for Mercedes-Benz drivers in the UAE, with a commercial launch expected by mid-2025. Additionally, the company revealed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric supercar equipped with e& UAE 5G SIM cards. It also introduced human-digital advisors utilizing hologram and AI technology to cater to the diverse cultural needs of telecom customers in the UAE. 

Revolutionizing Industries With AI 

The future of mobility was another focal point at GITEX Global, with showcases of next-generation innovations such as autonomous vehicles, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and the impact of AI on the auto-tech sector. 

The emergence of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centers, driven by AI, was a significant focus, highlighting the growing demand for scalable solutions and establishing the region as a center for AI-powered data infrastructure. Additionally, GITEX DIGI_HEALTH 5.0 convened industry leaders to discuss how AI is revolutionizing patient care and reshaping healthcare's future. 

Discussions also covered edtech, digital cities, and energy transitions. These conferences collectively highlighted critical dialogues that are shaping the future of digital transformation globally.  

Looking Ahead 

Scheduled events include GITEX Africa in Morocco from April 14-16 and GITEX Asia in Singapore from April 23-25. GITEX Europe will take place in Berlin from May 21-23, 2025, culminating in the launch of GITEX Nigeria in September 2025, all part of its expanding lineup. Each of these gatherings is designed to encourage collaboration and drive innovation, shaping the future of the tech landscape. 

Meanwhile, the next edition of GITEX Global is planned for October 13-17, 2025, offering another year of enhanced innovation and collaboration in the tech sector. In 2026, the event will transition to Expo City Dubai, further extending its impact and reach.