In Pictures: Gitex 2021 in Dubai promises some serious technology and a whole lot of fun

Will this Gitex be all about AI and Blockchain and how these technologies become part of everyday moments? The impression one gets ahead of the opening of the Middle East’s biggest tech event is that it will definitely be the case.

Sure, the hardware side of the tech business will be on full display in Dubai as Gitex brings back the world of tech and digital into the spotlight. But the industry is pivoting towards AI-enabled devices and everyday applications, and Blockchain could be on the cusp of going mainstream.

The four-day Gitex will be hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) starting Sunday (October 17). The Global x Ai Everything will spotlight regional transformations brought on by the deployment of Artificial Intelligence. The event will host over 3,000 plus companies and a platform to showcase their offerings.

Not just AI, the Global x Ai Everything will unite innovators in 5G, cloud computing, big data, cybersecurity, Blockchain, fintech and immersive marketing.

Whether it is to showcase their cloud offerings or state-of-the-art servers, there will be some big names involved. Take your pick – there is Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Huawei and Dell Technologies. Other prominent names will be Intel, Etisalat, du, Lenovo and Cisco.

Huawei will showcase how cloud and 5G can transform all industries than anything that has come before. The Chinese tech giant is also expected to announce new products and solutions to support carbon-neutral environments.

Let’s not forget the fun - Trackimo, a US-based Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider, will present the ‘NickWatch by Nickelodeon’, the first connected smartwatch for children featuring characters, games, and content from Nickelodeon. The NickWatch harnesses Trackimo's advanced IoT technology centred on real-time location tracking and motions sensors via a dedicated mobile application.

UK’s Hcomm will launch what it says is the world’s first ‘multi-sensorial room’. The ‘World of Sensation’ is immersive space dedicated to art. Aromas, breezes, videos, and sounds, which will be piped into a 180-degree room lined with LED screens to create a ‘space for emotion’.

Whether it is for some serious tech business or an insight into living with the most advanced smart offerings, Gitex and Dubai are where you need to be next week.