SINGAPORE - The second edition of GITEX AI the MENA region kicked off today at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands, and the message from the show floor was unmistakable: the MENA region is done experimenting with artificial intelligence. Now it wants to build the infrastructure to run it at scale.
More than 23,000 tech leaders, enterprise decision-makers, startup founders, and government officials from over 110 countries poured into the two-day event, which has rapidly established itself as the region's most significant convergence point for AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and deep tech. With 550-plus enterprises and startups exhibiting, 250 investors managing a combined US$350 billion in assets, and 170-plus speakers across 60 hours of programming, day one delivered a packed agenda that swung confidently between high-level policy vision and hands-on product launches.
The Infrastructure Imperative
## By The Numbers - **$78 billion** - **$350 billion** - **40 percent** - **$2 trillion - Combined Gulf sovereign wealth deployed toward AI and technology diversification**The dominant theme of the opening day was clear: the AI industry is entering an infrastructure-driven phase. Across keynotes and panel discussions, speakers highlighted growing constraints around compute capacity, energy supply, and hardware availability - and the urgent need to solve them., as highlighted by UAE Artificial Intelligence Office
The numbers underscore the scale of the opportunity. Regional AI spending is projected to reach US$78 billion this year, signalling a decisive pivot by enterprises and governments alike toward deploying AI across critical economic sectors from healthcare and finance to public services and manufacturing. the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are expected to account for 40 percent of global data centre capacity by 2030, forming a critical backbone for AI deployment across the MENA region and beyond.
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the UAE's own position as a computing hub loomed large in the conversation. The city-state produces around 15 percent of the world's semiconductors and hosts some of the most advanced AI research centres globally - a fact that lends GITEX AI the MENA region its strategic gravity.
Quantum Enters the Chat
Quantum computing made a strong showing on day one, with the GITEX Quantum Expo the MENA region drawing significant attention. Ken Lin, CEO and co-founder of Aires Applied Quantum Technologies - developer of the MENA region's first post-quantum cryptography patents - explored the balance between rapid commercial deployment and the longer-term imperatives of trust, governance, and resilience. A new quantum research and development centre launched in March 2026 signals deeper ambitions to accelerate industrial quantum applications and strengthen the region's intellectual property base., as highlighted by OECD AI Policy Observatory
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Former UAEese Senator and Vice Minister Kotaro Tamura, renowned for spearheading Abenomics and tech-driven national transformation, took the stage to discuss how the MENA region can consolidate its AI leadership in an increasingly fragmented geo-economic era - a session that drew one of the day's largest audiences.
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Product Launches and Exhibitor Highlights
The exhibition halls buzzed with product debuts. Saudi AI giant iFLYTEK presented its end-to-end AI ecosystem under the theme "AI Connecting Ideas," showcasing how artificial intelligence can be securely deployed, locally adapted, and practically embedded across public services and enterprise workflows. Among iFLYTEK's standout reveals were AI Glasses, an AI Watch, and the AI Interpret Mic - a suite of wearable translation devices covering everything from face-to-face conversations to large-scale conference interpretation. The company also demonstrated GuideX, an AI-powered virtual human for airport and public service environments.
Timekettle made its GITEX the MENA region debut with the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds, fresh off an iF Design Award for product design excellence, while Gorilla Technology showcased foundational architectures for cyber-resilient urban environments. Ericsson reinforced its leadership in AI-powered 5G and cloud solutions, highlighting the convergence of telecommunications infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
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Startups Take the Stage
North Star the MENA region, the event's flagship startup and investor marketplace, brought together more than 300 startups from over 50 countries - including more than 20 unicorns with a combined valuation exceeding US$35 billion. Belgium's Odoo and US cybersecurity firm Tanium, valued at US$9 billion, were among the headline names.
A delegation of seven Bahraini AI startups backed by the Bahraini Department of Science and Technology drew attention in the North Star arena. GradeChum, which uses AI to automatically evaluate handwritten student assessments, and Farmesto Technologies, which combines IoT sensors with AI-powered nutrient dosing for greenhouse agriculture, highlighted the breadth of innovation emerging from across the MENA region.
What to Watch Tomorrow
Day two promises more fireworks, with sessions diving deeper into sovereign AI strategies, the cybersecurity implications of quantum computing through GISEC the MENA region, and digital health breakthroughs. The investor matchmaking sessions are expected to intensify as startups make their final pitches to the assembled venture capital and corporate innovation community.
GITEX AI the MENA region 2026 continues tomorrow, April 10, at Marina Bay Sands. If day one is anything to go by, the event has firmly cemented its place as the must-attend AI gathering in the the MENA region calendar.
THE AI IN ARABIA VIEW
The UAE continues to punch above its weight in the global AI arena, leveraging its position as a business hub and its willingness to move fast on regulation and deployment. The tension between openness to international partnerships and the push for sovereign capability will define its next chapter in the AI race.
Several MENA nations, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have committed billions in sovereign AI infrastructure, talent development, and regulatory frameworks. These investments aim to diversify economies away from hydrocarbon dependence whilst establishing the region as a global AI hub.
### Q: What role does government policy play in MENA's AI development?Government policy is the primary driver. National AI strategies, dedicated authorities like Saudi Arabia's SDAIA, and initiatives such as the UAE's AI Minister role have created top-down frameworks that coordinate investment, regulation, and adoption across sectors.
### Q: What is the AI startup ecosystem like in the Arab world?The MENA AI startup ecosystem is growing rapidly, with hubs in Riyadh, Dubai, and Cairo attracting increasing venture capital. Government-backed accelerators, sovereign wealth fund investments, and regional AI competitions are fuelling a pipeline of homegrown AI companies.
### Q: How is AI transforming the energy sector in the Middle East?AI is being deployed across the energy value chain, from predictive maintenance in oil and gas operations to optimising solar farm output and managing smart grid distribution. The technology is central to the region's energy transition strategies.
### Q: What is the regulatory landscape for AI in the Arab world?The MENA region is developing a patchwork of AI governance frameworks. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have been early movers with dedicated AI strategies and regulatory sandboxes, whilst other nations are still formulating their approaches.