GITEX GLOBAL 2024 concluded on Friday, underscoring AI’s pivotal role as a transformative tool that will continue to reshape industries and drive business and economic growth globally.

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 percent 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.

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.

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 centres 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.