The world’s biggest technology exhibition, GITEX Global, opened its doors in Dubai on Monday to packed halls, crawling traffic, and a wave of announcements as global firms and government bodies unveiled their latest artificial intelligence projects.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, toured the venue with his sons, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Maktoum, praising the country’s role in “bringing the world together” and shaping “the future of humanity.”
The 45th edition of GITEX Global spans the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Harbour, featuring more than 6,800 companies and 2,000 startups from 180 countries.
AI everywhere
Artificial intelligence dominated conversations across the exhibition floor. The Dubai government unveiled a new generation of AI-powered services, including a suite of agentic systems for finance, procurement, and product management. Its data authority introduced CodAI and the GeoStat Agent, part of a “City-as-a-Service” vision built around real-time urban data.
Estonia brought its “Digital Nation Blueprint,” led by Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta, highlighting e-governance and cybersecurity tools aimed at deepening cooperation with Gulf governments.
Global tech companies used the platform to showcase their latest AI stacks. Huawei unveiled more than 80 new solutions under its “All Intelligence” theme, covering cloud, cybersecurity, and smart networking. SAS demonstrated generative and agentic AI systems, including a new Retrieval Agent Manager designed to accelerate enterprise-grade AI deployment. Deloitte announced it is expanding its Silicon to Service AI infrastructure partnership to the Middle East, integrating Dell and NVIDIA systems for governments and corporates building regional AI capacity.
Mobility and safety take centre stage
Mobility innovation drew major crowds at the e& enterprise pavilion, where self-driving trucks, air taxis, and electric performance cars stood side by side. Abu Dhabi’s Yas Driving Academy introduced the world’s first Autonomous Training Vehicle, built with Tatweer, which can train drivers using AI navigation and real-time data without an instructor on board.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed trials of an AI-powered system to monitor the behaviour of more than 12,000 delivery riders, aiming to halve motorcycle accidents by 2026.
Other exhibits included smart inspection platforms that use computer vision to assess vehicles in minutes and a “Smart Vehicle Network” that enables data exchange between cars and road infrastructure to cut delays by 25 per cent.
Space, drones and digital twins
UAE-based Space42 announced the listing of its GIQ geospatial intelligence platform on Microsoft Azure, expanding access to satellite imagery and analytics worldwide.
Drones were another strong presence, from Dubai Civil Defence’s Shaheen firefighting models to Fujairah Airport’s inspection units.
The mood: optimistic, crowded, and futuristic
By late afternoon, traffic clogged roads around the Trade Centre and metro stations overflowed, but spirits remained high as visitors queued to experience dancing robots, AI cars designed to detect residency violators, and futuristic racing simulators.
For many, the show’s tone was summed up by Sheikh Mohammed’s post on X: “Proud of our national companies and proud of my nation, which has been able to bring the world together.”
With more than 170 countries represented and an agenda dominated by AI, digital twins, and next-generation mobility, GITEX Global 2025 made clear from day one that the UAE intends to remain at the centre of the world’s technology conversation.
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