Under the theme, “Re-Imagining Realities: Discover, Transform and Innovate,”

Most Global Edition to Host Attendees from Six Continents and 147 Countries;

IDC: Global Digital Transformation Economy to Top USD 2 Trillion in 2019

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Attendees to one of the world’s most global technology expos – the 37th GITEX Technology Week can experience and discover how converging technologies and disruptive business models will solve problems in daily lives and businesses. UAE-based and international technology companies, governments, startups via the new GITEX Future Stars startup confluence, and futurists will showcase how innovations -- from artificial intelligence, to blockchain and virtual reality -- are transforming the lives of communities around the world.

The technology investment market opportunity is strong, as evidenced by the Digital Transformation economy’s growth projection of 60 percent from 2016 to USD 2.2 trillion by 2019, according to an IDC research report.[1] Innovations such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and digital platforms such as 5G and the Internet of Things, will make the biggest business impact, according to research firm Gartner.[2]

Enabling Middle East and global digital transformation, GITEX Technology Week 2017 will run under the theme “Re-Imagining Realities: Discover, Transform and Innovate.” The over-arching vision of “GITEX is Everything Tech” will showcase 17 specialist technologies, including blockchain, artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things.

The major emphasis this year will be on how emerging technologies can solve practical problems –for example, how autonomous vehicles can ease traffic, how artificial intelligence can enable predictive government services, and how virtual reality can enhance surgery and education, all ultimately resulting in happier and smarter experiences.

To that end, GITEX is helping to stream the sourcing process with GITEX Global Sourcing – a simple intuitive sourcing platform that connects solution provider and vendors to buyer with sourcing needs. Top decision makers from key business units will be able to efficiently select partners with whom to test, explore and fully experience solutions live at the show.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to gain critical insight from more than 80 global practitioners in eight Power Conferences being held at GITEX Technology Week. The eight verticals being tackled are Smart Cities, Healthcare, Digital Marketing, Finance, Retail, Transport & Logistics, Tech Leaders, and Education.

Middle East as Global Centre of Adoption of Innovative Technologies

Global mega-trends – public cloud computing, which has reached USD 70 billion worldwide, and global data growing at 50 percent CAGR since 2010[3] -- are unlocking new business opportunities in the Internet of Things era, according to a recent report by Accenture. In particular, UAE consumers out-pace the global average in favouring Artificial Intelligence, with 73 percent interested in using AI on mobile devices[4], Accenture added.

'With an aim to become an internationally recognised hub for digital innovation, the region has laid the foundation for business leaders to become early adopters of transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, robotics, and blockchain. Accenture will be sharing global and regional best practices and insights into how governments and businesses can harness the power of digital and use digital technologies to multiply new sources of value and growth,” said Omar Boulos, Regional Managing Director, Accenture Middle East and North Africa, which is the event’s Exclusive Digital Transformation Partner.

Middle East public cloud spend will grow 22 percent to top USD 1.2 billion in 2017[5], according to a recent report by Gartner. As a result, SAP, one of the world’s leading business transformation enablers, will showcase the cloud solutions that enable Internet of Things and Smart Cities innovations, especially in the high-growth aviation and retail verticals.

“World class digital business competitiveness requires collaboration and co-innovation across every industry. GITEX Technology Week is an exciting and strategic platform for SAP to showcase transformational cloud business models and exchange innovative Internet of Things best practices to enhance citizen experiences and enable Smart Cities in the region,” commented Steve Tzikakis, Regional President for South Europe, Middle East, and Africa at SAP, the event’s Business Transformation Partner.

As the Internet of Things connects more machines, applications, and devices to the Internet, the cybersecurity risk is accelerating exponentially. In response, public and private sector organisations are heavily investing in cyber security solutions, with worldwide IT security spending set to grow by 7 percent to reach USD 87 billion in 2017, according to Gartner.[6] 

Exchanging global best practices in cyber security will be DarkMatter, the international cyber security firm that is headquartered in the UAE, and which will serve as the event’s Cyber Security Innovation Partner. 
 
“In a rapidly digitising world with increasingly complex cyber-attacks that are extending the cyber threat surface, the UAE government is showcasing best practices in public-private partnerships securing citizen services and Smart Cities. GITEX Technology Week provides the platform for DarkMatter to interact with global CIOs and CISOs on the benefits of nationwide digital transformation, which needs to be based on cyber security and trusted transactions,” said Faisal Al Bannai, Founder and CEO of DarkMatter.

New Show Features and Expanded Conference Programme

The 37th GITEX Technology Week will feature a wide range of innovative, expanded, and exciting show features and conferences to enhance the integrated visitor experience. The aim is for attendees to experience the future, and learn how to apply the latest applications to improve their daily lives.

Global ICT solutions provider Huawei will inaugurate its 2nd Huawei Middle East Innovation Day. During the event, hundreds of industry experts, scholars, analysts, and policymakers will come together to envision the future of technology’s impact on daily lives and businesses.

Space Lee/Li Xiangyu, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Huawei Middle East, said: 'At Huawei, we endeavour to discover, transform, and innovate every day, and to contribute positively to the Middle East's digital transformation and growing ICT ecosystem. During the first day of the GITEX conference this year, we will be hosting the second annual ‘Huawei Middle East Innovation Day’. Themed ‘Exploration Lights the Way Forward,’ the event is bringing together luminaries of the ICT industry, subject matter experts, and thought leaders, to explore the cutting-edge concepts and technologies that will take us forward in our pursuit to better people's lives through digital transformation.”

Space Lee continued: “We remain committed to supporting the agendas of the national governments across the region, and, as a leading end-to-end solutions and services provider, Huawei will continue to serve as an enabler for key sectors in their drive towards digitization and the building of local and national knowledge economies.”

With the global Smart Cities market set to grow about seven-fold to USD 3.5 trillion by 2026, [7] the new Global Smart Cities Hall will feature 150 public sector organisations from around the world showcasing the latest innovations. Among the most innovative are from the UAE, thanks to Smart Dubai’s Smart Cities vision and mission to make Dubai the happiest city on Earth. For example, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s smart services aim to reduce the number of visitors to government offices by 80 percent by 2018,  and the Dubai Road and Transport Authority is currently testing an autonomous aerial taxi.  

The new GITEX Future Stars will enable the world’s most innovative startups and entrepreneurs to find commercial investment and catalyse innovations. Startups will be able to use GITEX Technology Week to amplify their presence and reach a global audience of investors and partners to bring their solutions to market.

The GITEX Power Conferences have expanded to cover the latest advances, applications and case-studies across eight industry verticals, featuring a fast-paced, highly-curated programme, with the world’s most exciting and challenger brands going head-to-head.

GITEX Power Conferences will kick off on Sunday, 8 October with Patrick Grove, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Catcha Group and Co-Founder and Chairman of Malaysia-based video-on-demand service iflix on “With AI at Its Core, How iflix aims to outsmart all video on demand services in Asia.” Patrick Grove is a Financial Review “Richlister” whose company, iflix has overtaken Netflix in Asia. Following will be a fireside chat with Daniela Rus, the first female director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and an Accenture case study.

Highlighted verticals will be Retail, Healthcare, and Smart Cities on Monday, 9 October; Finance, Tech Leaders, and Smart Cities on Tuesday, 10 October; Transport & Logistics and Digital Marketing on Wednesday, 11 October; and Education on Thursday, 12 October. The Education Day will be free and open to the public, and leading schools and universities will be invited to attend.

One of the key speakers will be digital health evangelist John Nosta, Member of the Google Health Advisory Board, Faculty Member at Singularity University, and President of Nostalab, a healthcare think tank, who will present on “Health and Wellness: The Next Habitat for Tech-Humanity”.

“We are living in a true inflection point for human history, where there is global will to use technology innovations to make healthcare more efficient, to empower patients with self-care, and to enhance the daily lives of an aging population. GITEX Technology Week provides the global platform to illustrate the digital health continuum, and be in dialogue with the next generation of connected healthcare innovators and futurists,” said John Nosta.

Overall, GITEX Technology Week 2017 will be the foremost global hub for governments, companies, startups, exhibitors, partners, innovative C-suite executives, and technology experts and futurists to co-create, discover, and learn.

“As innovative technologies see strong take-up in the Middle East and worldwide, GITEX Technology Week aims to inspire attendees with a sense of urgency, wonder, and discovery in adopting the latest innovations, from AR and VR to blockchain. Under one roof in Dubai, one of the world’s most innovative cities, attendees will be able to hear the latest trends from global thought leaders, see them in practical use by global companies, network with peers, and experience future innovations from startups,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of GITEX Technology Week.

GITEX Technology Week 2017 will run from 8-12 October 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Enabling attendees to easily access GITEX Technology Week, this year online registration and payment will be open around-the-clock.