Dubai will host GITEX TechCation 2026, set to become the world’s largest technology and artificial intelligence event, following directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The December show at Expo City Dubai aims to position the emirate as a year-end global destination for innovation, investment, and lifestyle.
Dubai is preparing to launch GITEX TechCation 2026, which will become the world’s largest technology and artificial intelligence event, under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The global showcase will be organised under the supervision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Running from December 7–11, 2026 at Expo City Dubai, the event will position Dubai as a year-end global destination for innovation, investment, and lifestyle, uniting leading technology companies, startups, investors, and creators in an immersive, citywide celebration of innovation and creativity.
GITEX TechCation 2026 marks a major expansion of Dubai’s global technology network, anchoring the world’s largest tech and startup ecosystem in the heart of the city’s tourism, culture, and lifestyle season.
As a first step, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) have signed a strategic partnership to develop and promote the event. The agreement was formalised between Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC.
“GITEX has long been more than just a tech show, and this new era, guided by our city’s visionary leadership, is poised to further elevate its global importance and relevance,” said Issam Kazim. “Seamlessly blending innovation with Dubai’s unmatched lifestyle, GITEX TechCation will underline the city’s status as a premier destination for both business and leisure.”
Trixie LohMirmand described the event as “a fundamental reconfiguration of global tech events” that will harness “the full energy of Dubai – culture, lifestyle, and spirit” through an ethos of ‘Tech Hard, Live Hard’.
Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination strengthens the vision behind GITEX TechCation. The city was ranked number one globally in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for three consecutive years (2022–2024). Its culinary scene continues gaining international acclaim, with the 2025 MICHELIN Guide featuring 119 restaurants, including 19 with MICHELIN Stars.
The initiative aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to position Dubai among the top three global cities by 2033. By embedding the world’s largest tech and investor network into Dubai’s tourism and cultural ecosystem, the event reinforces the emirate’s standing as a global destination for talent, foreign direct investment, and innovation.
Dubai ranked first worldwide for Greenfield FDI projects for the eighth consecutive half-year period (H1 2025) and first in Savills’ Executive Nomad Index, underscoring its appeal to entrepreneurs, tech talent, and investors. This follows the emirate’s strong performance across multiple sectors, including its major AI infrastructure investments and robust economic growth.
