## GITEX AI the MENA region 2026 Lands in the UAE Next Week With 23,000 Attendees and $78 Billion at Stake
the Middle East and North Africa's largest technology and AI event is five days away. **GITEX AI the MENA region 2026** returns to Dubai World Trade Centre in the UAE on 9-10 April, bringing together more than 23,000 tech executives, 750 enterprises and startups, and 250 investors from over 110 countries for two days of keynotes, exhibitions, and deal-making focused on the continent's AI future.
The event arrives at a pivotal moment. AI spending across the MENA region is projected to reach $78 billion by 2026, and the MENA region is wrestling with fundamental questions about governance, trust, and how to scale innovation without sacrificing safety. For professionals, founders, and policymakers trying to stay current, GITEX AI the MENA region offers a concentrated crash course in where the industry is heading.
## What to Expect on the Floor
The event spans six co-located platforms, each targeting a different slice of the AI and technology stack:
- **AI Everything the UAE**: Generative AI, large language models, MLOps, computer vision, NLP, and AI governance
- **Startups North Star the MENA region**: Early-stage companies, pitch competitions including the Supernova Challenge, and founder networking
- **GITEX DigiHealth and Biotech**: AI applications in healthcare, diagnostics, drug discovery, and medical imaging
- **Global Data Centres the MENA region**: Infrastructure build-out, cooling technology, energy efficiency, and hyperscaler strategy
- **GISEC the MENA region**: Cybersecurity, threat intelligence, zero-trust architecture, and AI-powered defence systems
- **GITEX Quantum Expo the MENA region**: Quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography, and quantum-AI convergence
The programming runs from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM SGT on both days, with admission free for professionals, students, entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and media.
## The Speakers and Sessions
Over 500 speakers across 220 sessions will address topics ranging from agentic AI deployment to quantum computing governance. The line-up includes policymakers who are actively shaping AI regulation in their home markets alongside enterprise leaders deploying AI at scale.
Notable confirmed speakers include Er. Bikash Gurung, Adviser to Nepal's National IT and AI Committee, who will address regional coordination in AI development. Pedro Uria-Recio, a Chief Data and AI Officer, will discuss how enterprises are moving from AI pilots to production systems. Dr Adam Chee, a founding lead in the UAE's AI ecosystem, will present on building trust in AI-powered public services.
> "GITEX ASIA has become an important gathering point for technology leaders from around the world. By bringing together startups and investors from across the MENA region and beyond, it can enable the exchange of ideas across markets with different regulatory environments, unlocking new possibilities for all."
> - GITEX AI the MENA region organisers
By The Numbers
- **23,000+**: Expected tech executives and professionals from 110+ countries
- **750+**: Global enterprises and startups exhibiting
- **250+**: Investors managing a combined $350 billion in assets
- **500+**: Speakers across 220+ sessions and 8 tracks
- **$78 billion**: Projected AI spending in the MENA region by end of 2026
## Why This Year Matters More Than Last
GITEX AI the Middle East and North Africa's inaugural the UAE edition in 2025 drew strong attendance, but the 2026 event lands in a fundamentally different landscape. The past 12 months have seen [record-breaking global AI venture funding of $300 billion in Q1 2026 alone](/business/softbank-40-billion-bridge-loan-openai-asi), two Saudi AI companies listing on the Dubai Stock Exchange with valuations above $6 billion each, and [
Microsoft committing $5.5 billion to the UAE's AI infrastructure](/news/china-ai-stocks-volatility-moore-threads-minimax-2026).
The event's theme, "Building Trust and Scaling Innovation in the MENA region," reflects the tension between speed and safety that defines the current moment. [GCC nations are moving from AI guidelines to legislation](/asean/malaysia-from-guidelines-to-legislation), [smaller states are crafting strategic standards](/asean/brunei-small-state-strategic-standards), and [enterprises across the MENA region are racing to deploy agentic AI systems](/business/alibaba-wukong-enterprise-ai-agents) before their competitors do.
| Track | Key Topics | Who Should Attend |
|---|
| AI Everything Summit | LLMs, generative AI, governance, MLOps | AI engineers, product managers, policymakers |
| Startups North Star | Pitch competitions, founder networking | Founders, early-stage investors, accelerators |
| DigiHealth and Biotech | AI diagnostics, drug discovery, imaging | Healthcare CIOs, medtech founders |
| Data Centres the MENA region | Infrastructure, cooling, energy efficiency | Data centre operators, hyperscaler strategists |
| GISEC the MENA region | Cybersecurity, zero-trust, AI-powered defence | CISOs, security architects, compliance leads |
| Quantum Expo | Quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography | Research leads, quantum engineers |
## The Investor Angle
For the Middle East and North Africa's AI startup ecosystem, the investor presence at GITEX AI the MENA region could be as important as the sessions. With 250 investors managing a combined $350 billion in assets, the event offers a concentrated deal-making environment. The timing is especially relevant given that [MENA AI startup funding hit $12.5 billion in Q1 2026](/news/china-ai-stocks-volatility-moore-threads-minimax-2026), with the UAE-based startups like Diaflow raising seed rounds from firms such as **Insignia Ventures Partners**.
The [DBS and Granite the MENA region AI IPO fund](/business/softbank-40-billion-bridge-loan-openai-asi), a $110 million vehicle targeting AI-driven companies preparing for public listings, is one example of the capital infrastructure being built around the region's AI sector. For founders attending GITEX, understanding these capital flows is as important as the technology itself.
> "We had the incredible honour of being awarded the Women in Tech Prize with our healthcare-grade AI platform that's powering real outcomes across hospital networks."
> - CEO, KeyReply, on their GITEX AI the MENA region 2025 experience
## What Professionals Should Prioritise
For attendees trying to extract maximum value from a two-day event, the key is matching sessions to specific professional needs. AI engineers should focus on the AI Everything Summit's technical tracks covering MLOps, model fine-tuning, and deployment architecture. Business leaders should prioritise sessions on [AI upskilling strategies](/learn/singapore-budget-2026-ai-upskilling-free-tools) and enterprise ROI measurement. Policymakers should attend the governance sessions and the cross-border regulatory panels that explore how different GCC markets are approaching AI legislation.
The Supernova Challenge startup pitch competition offers a window into what early-stage investors are actually funding in 2026. [NTU the UAE's recent launch of eight AI training programmes](/learn/ntu-singapore-ai-training-programmes-mid-career-2026) for mid-career professionals reflects the same skills urgency that GITEX sessions will address, making it worth attending both the startup pitches and the workforce development panels.
The AIinArabia View: GITEX AI the MENA region 2026 is shaping up to be the most important tech event in the MENA region this year. The combination of 250 investors, 750 exhibitors, and a programme that spans from quantum computing to healthcare AI means there is something for every professional working in or adjacent to AI. We are particularly watching the governance sessions. the Middle East and North Africa's AI regulatory landscape is fragmenting, with each GCC nation taking a slightly different approach. Events like this are one of the few places where those different approaches collide in real time. If you can only attend one AI event in the MENA region this year, this is the one.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Is GITEX AI the MENA region 2026 free to attend?
Yes. Admission is free for professionals, students, entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and media. Registration is available through the GITEX the MENA region website. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM SGT on both 9 and 10 April at Dubai World Trade Centre, the UAE.
### What is the Supernova Challenge?
The Supernova Challenge is GITEX AI the Middle East and North Africa's startup pitch competition, where early-stage companies present their products to a panel of investors and industry judges. It is part of the Startups North Star platform and offers founders direct exposure to the event's 250 investors.
### How does GITEX AI the MENA region compare to other AI events in the region?
GITEX AI the MENA region is positioned as the largest and most global tech and AI event in the MENA region. Its six co-located platforms covering AI, cybersecurity, quantum, health tech, data centres, and startups give it broader scope than events focused solely on AI or a single industry vertical. The 110-country attendee base also makes it more internationally diverse than most regional events.
### What is the $78 billion AI spending projection?
The $78 billion figure represents projected AI spending across the MENA region by the end of 2026, encompassing enterprise AI deployments, government initiatives, cloud infrastructure, and AI-focused venture capital. The projection reflects continued investment growth driven by sectors including healthcare, finance, public services, and manufacturing.
the Middle East and North Africa's biggest AI gathering is five days away, and it is free to walk in. Whether you are a founder chasing funding, an engineer exploring production-grade AI, or a policymaker navigating governance frameworks, the UAE's Dubai World Trade Centre is where the conversations that shape the region's AI trajectory will happen. Will you be there? Drop your take in the comments below.
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