Dubai is gearing up to host GITEX GLOBAL 2025 from October 13 to 17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and make no mistake: this year’s edition promises to be one of the most consequential yet. With Sam Altman and Peng Xiao headlining the AI dialogue, and top UAE leaders including H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti on stage, the stage is set for high-stakes announcements, emerging tech showcases, and sharp debates about the future of digital trust.
Dubai’s technology spotlight shifts again in October, as GITEX Global 2025 returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre (October 13–17). This year’s summit promises a collision of innovation, regulatory urgency, and strategic positioning in AI, cybersecurity, and Web3. With luminaries like Sam Altman already linked to the UAE’s AI agenda, GITEX is shaping up not just as an expo but a stage where the future of trust, governance, and security will unfold.
For Cybercory.com, this is more than an attendee moment, we are a registered magazine and media partner for the Future Blockchain Summit, with front-row access to the most pressing conversations in AI, cyber, and digital sovereignty.
An Event of Scale & Ambition
GITEX 2025 marks its 45th edition as “the world’s largest tech, AI & startup show” and will feature:
- 6,800+ tech companies, 2,000 startups, and 1,200 investors from over 180 countries.
- Major presences from global giants: Alibaba Cloud, AWS, G42, Huawei, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Siemens, and others.
- Focus zones: AI & Semiconductors, Quantum, Physical AI, Super Data Centres, and Cyber Valley, a brand-new expansion for cybersecurity and defense.
Power Players, Big Stages
- Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, will join alongside Peng Xiao of G42, in a marquee session titled “From early adoption to AI-native nations”.
- UAE’s leadership presence is strong:
- H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy & Tourism,
- H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy & Remote Work,
- H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity in UAE.
- The agenda includes a “Power Summit” track with high-level discussions such as “The energy-AI paradox” and “Quantum sovereignty”.
Why This Matters to the Cybersecurity World
- Convergence of AI & security: With AI deeply woven into every tech stack, device, and network, vulnerabilities stretch wider. Expectations and pressure on security leaders will only intensify.
- Regulation and sovereignty debates: The UAE, with its national cybersecurity strategy, will use GITEX to project both ambition and caution about governance, data sovereignty, and trust frameworks.
- Ecosystem momentum: Global vendors will showcase next-gen tools for automated threat detection, quantum-safe cryptography, and resiliency at scale.
- Regional leverage: For MEA organizations, being in that room is more than symbolic, it’s a chance to partner, to learn, and to chart roadmaps for scale in markets often underserved.
Our Role: CISO Paradise & Dubai Cyber Show
As a registered magazine at GITEX GLOBAL and part of our media partnership with the Future blockchain Summit, Cybercory.com will host a special segment, “Dubai Cyber Show” inside the Podcast Room, led by our founder Ouaissou Dembele. Through CISO Paradise, we’ll broadcast cyber talks, interviews, and panel reflections with global industry leaders live from the floor. Our goal: bring the most relevant insights in real time to readers across MEA and beyond.
MEA Focus: Why This Summit Matters for the Region
For the Middle East and Africa, GITEX isn’t just a showcase, it’s a declaration. Governments are accelerating digital transformation, AI adoption, and regulatory frameworks; enterprises must balance innovation and trust. Companies in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond are looking to build resilient cyber infrastructure, secure cross-border operations, and mature security programs. Attendance and participation here can cement strategic positioning for years.
10 Recommended Actions for Security Teams Pre-GITEX & Beyond
- Map your strategic agenda — identify which technologies (quantum, AI, cloud) will likely influence your roadmap in the next 2–3 years.
- Set meeting targets — compile a list of vendors, C-levels, and government delegates you want to engage with before you land.
- Upgrade your threat intel — subscribe to feeds ahead of GITEX that spotlight UAE, GCC, and regional cyber trends.
- Prepare demos, case studies, and customer credentials — bring content that shows impact, not just product.
- Attend keynote sessions — especially the AI dialogue and national strategy panels to catch roadmap signals.
- Engage media and partnerships early — reach out to media partners like us (Cybercory) to amplify your voice.
- Plan follow-up — book slots immediately post-GITEX for deals, pilots, or PoCs.
- Watch regulation radar — monitor UAE, KSA, and Africa for emergent cybersecurity / data laws being teased at the event.
- Train your team to network — nothing is more valuable than human conversations in hallways.
- Capture and share insights — live-blog, podcast, or video short clips to extend your reach beyond the venue.
Conclusion
GITEX 2025 isn’t just another tech expo, it’s a strategic inflection point. For cybersecurity professionals in MEA, attending is a move from defense to influence. As we converge between AI ambitions and digital trust, outcomes will ripple into policies, vendor selection, and regional trust frameworks.
From the Podcast Room to the Main Stage, Cybercory.com and CISO Paradise will be front and center, on the lookout, on the airwaves, and on your radar.
