GITEX Global: What’s new in 2021?

GITEX Global, the UAE’s annual tech event, is back with its 41st edition and set to run from October 17-21, 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The event, which draws thousands of tech enthusiasts from across the world, will highlight artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud, blockchain, cybersecurity, big data, quantum computing, immersive technologies, finance, and other new technologies.

Some of the participating tech giants include Huawei, Cisco, Ericsson, Avaya, Etisalat, Epson, Honeywell, Dell Technologies, Kaspersky, VMware, AWS, and Infor.

The event will feature many innovations and provide the opportunity to attend six tech shows all at once: GITEX Global, GITEX Future Stars, Future Blockchain Summit, AI Everything, Marketing Mania and Fintech Surge.

GITEX Global Visions Summit

This summit will showcase the visions and digital revolutions of the region’s government leaders on the occasion of the UAE’s golden jubilee.

GITEX YouthX

With a unique programme focused on bringing emerging talents closer to the practitioner ecosystem each year, this platform supports the development of young talents.

GITEX data economy

This platform will concentrate on the most critical aspects of digital transformation, including data science, coding, and development. GITEX’s DevSlam will be the region’s first and only developer event aimed at empowering young programmers. Three accredited trainings and two certified workshops will also take place.

Creative economy

The re-imagine creative economy circle will bring together the energetic change makers and tech revolutionaries from the fields of art, fashion, music, and sports. Global industry names, like The Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, ABRIESP, and Studio of Brazil have already signed on as partners to enhance the Creative Economy project, with many more to follow, reported Magnitt.

Women in tech

The global finals of the TiE Women pitch competition will be held at GITEX, where women-led businesses from more than 40 locations will compete for equity-free cash awards, mentorship, investor networking, and visibility. The grand finale will be held on October 19 at GITEX Future Stars. The Women in AI and Data event will provide mentorship, soft skills development, and networking opportunities to empower women via technology and data. With almost 14,000 women educated worldwide, the MENA branch will debut in Dubai in October. GITEX Global will also offer accredited artificial intelligence and data science training programmes.

GITEX Future Stars

GITEX Future Stars – the startup arm of GITEX Global will feature more than 700 companies from over 60 countries. The platform will gather global innovators and will host international pavilions from countries including Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, Poland, Bahrain, Oman, India, Portugal, Hungary, Israel, Sweden, Serbia, Ukraine and Pakistan.The global entrepreneurs will have access to the region’s expanding tech market, while regional companies will have the opportunity to get international visibility.

The GITEX YouthX Unipreneur, the first-ever entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership programme for young tech firms, will also debut in 2021. The YouthX Unipreneur, which is open to both universities and student startups, will dedicate two days of seminars, a Youth Pitch Battle, and a dedicated display area to the innovative concepts developed by them.

Some of the key speakers at GITEX Future Stars will include Faisal Al Hawi, head of accelerator and incubators, Dubai Future Foundation; Sharif El-Badawi, CEO, Stealth VC Fund; Sandy Grigsby, founder, BrioFIVE; Baher Al-Hakim, CEO, Medicus AI and Imad Hammad, founder and CEO, CarSwitch.

Ai Everything

When it comes to digital transformation, the pandemic has taught organisations and industry leaders valuable lessons. Using new technology such as artificial intelligence is one of the most persuasive teachings. AI has the potential to fundamentally disrupt markets in the Middle East by creating innovative new services and entirely new business models. With the eruption of AI, some of the market leaders in 10, even five years, may be companies you’ve never heard of, says PwC. In line with this growth, Ai Everything, the global artificial intelligence ecosystem, brings together industry experts to form an impactful conference, where innovators gather to showcase the most significant cross-sector tech events.

Future Blockchain Summit

Future Blockchain Summit, launched in 2018 by the Dubai Government, is the first Blockchain expo and conference in the MENA region, bringing together the community’s entrepreneurs and investors. Three key subjects will be addressed throughout the event.
1. Blockchain in Finance, which includes DeFi, digital currencies, and CBDCs.
2. Blockchain as an alternative investment option, including crypto and NFT investments
3. Blockchain beyond cryptocurrency, with applications and use cases in every industrial area.

Fintech Surge

Contactless payments have recently increased by 70 per cent in the MENA, with the region’s fintech sector expected to be worth $2.5bn by 2022, according to a report by Clifford Chance.

Fintech Surge, which brings together global fintech experts, entrepreneurs, and financial centres, is poised to be the most influential and visionary event for the Middle East and North Africa’s fintech sector.

From digital banking to paytech, insuretech, wealth and asset management and regtech, Fintech Surge will see financial sector tech-revolutions and presentations by industry experts and entrepreneurs. Some of the key exhibitors at this event include Accurascan, Beehive, Credolab, Al Fardan Exchange, and YAP.

Marketing Mania

Marketing Mania, an event for mar-tech experts, will be hosted in conjunction with GITEX Global to discuss innovative and inspiring methods for marketers to engage customers.