With conference season now underway, the eyes of technology enthusiasts are constantly changing around the world.
But that interest could soon be focused firmly on the Middle East, which now claims to be the home of the world’s largest tech event.
GITEX Global 2022 which was held at the World Trade Center in Dubai and was attended by Pro radar technologyIt may not be as popular as CES in Las Vegas or the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the organizers have big plans to change that.
GITEX 2022
After a difficult few years during the pandemic, GITEX Global welcomed its largest ever attendance, with over 120,000 people reported from over 5,000 companies from 90 countries, including over 1,000 speakers.
Spanning over two million square feet of the entire Dubai World Trade Center, the conference was a stressful experience for many, as crowded halls made it difficult to get to talks and discussion sessions in time, especially when heading to places that required an outdoor excursion in the boiling desert heat.
In a country that aims to prove that bigger is always better, holding such a sprawling conference without a specific theme or agenda across such a gigantic space may not have been the wisest option—and hopefully, organizers will guide stewardship in the years to come.
But with a group that included major global tech companies such as Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Huawei and many more, and including many speakers for the UAE and Dubai government, the conference had some hidden gems on display.
The main attraction was the world’s first “flying car”, which was demonstrated by the Chinese company XPENG, whose X2 car carried out a successful (albeit somewhat disappointing) test flight on the outskirts of the conference.
Looking ahead, it is clear that the organizers have big plans for the future, as they announced the opening of GITEX Africa in May 2023 in a bid to attract some investment and development on a large scale across the continent.
And with zones designed specifically for developers, metaverses and startups, GITEX and its space events could soon become a proof ground for some of the next great tech companies.
While it may take a while to grab headlines like CES and MWC, the strength and determination (not to mention financial support) from Dubai and the UAE are behind it, we wouldn’t bet Gitex Global could grow more in years to eat
- TechRadar Pro’s travel and accommodations in Dubai were funded by the Dubai World Trade Center, but the organization had no editorial control over the content of this article.