GITEX highlighted Dubai’s ambition to be a global technology hub. But the city needs a deeper Africa-strategy
- Dubai's GITEX is planning to launch a European version in partnership with Messe Berlin in May 2025.
- GITEX Africa, organized in partnership with Morocco's Digital Development Agency, is the UAE's primary event to engage with technology players in Africa.
- The UAE's cautious African strategy focuses on events and tradeshows, but it may fall short in fostering thriving technology ecosystems.
While Dubai's GITEX is expanding its reach globally, there are concerns about the effectiveness of tradeshows in fostering thriving technology ecosystems. The UAE needs to develop a deeper engagement strategy beyond events and pitch competitions to truly tap into emerging technology markets. However, Dubai's position as a financial and business facilitation center for Africa's wealthy, along with its tech hub ambitions, presents an opportunity for the UAE to play a bigger role in Africa's technology ecosystem.
