GITEX Showcases the Middle East’s Data Centre Leadership

GITEX GLOBAL 2024, the world’s largest tech and startup event, hosted the Middle East’s largest data centre gathering at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Thursday, emphasizing the region’s ambition to become a global leader in the fast-evolving data centre market.

The conference highlighted AI’s transformative role in data infrastructure, a key driver of the billion-dollar global market. Industry leaders demonstrated cutting-edge solutions, focusing on the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centres.

As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the global data centre market is projected to grow to USD $256 billion by the end of 2024, with expectations to reach USD $775 billion by 2034. GITEX GLOBAL remains a vital platform for industry discussions, underscoring the urgent need for scalable data centres to meet the rising AI-driven demand.

Data Centres Driving Jobs and Economic Growth

The “Data Centres Universe” segment featured key industry players such as Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo. These leaders shared insights into the future of hyperscale, edge, and modular data centres and the industry’s role in global AI innovation.

Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, the MENA region’s largest hyperscale wholesale data centre provider, stressed the importance of expanding data centres to support talent development and create jobs. He noted that data centres play a significant role in economies by generating employment opportunities critical for day-to-day operations.

Sustainability in Data Centre Development

Marc Marazzi, Vice President of Legrand Data Center Solutions, emphasized the need for sustainability in data centre growth. He highlighted the importance of careful planning and long-term considerations, stating that data centres, built to last for 15 years or more, must be designed with future environmental impacts in mind.

“It’s encouraging to see the industry taking green initiatives seriously,” said Marazzi, urging organizations to consider sustainable practices in construction, cooling, and management of data centres.

Looking Ahead at GITEX GLOBAL 2024

As GITEX GLOBAL 2024 concludes on Friday, ‘Futuristic Friday’ will spotlight groundbreaking technologies including quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech—set to redefine the future of the tech landscape.

GITEX GLOBAL, taking place from October 14-18 at DWTC, is recognized as the world’s largest tech event, featuring over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors. This 44th edition connects the world’s biggest tech hubs, including GITEX EUROPE, GITEX ASIA, GITEX AFRICA, and GITEX NIGERIA, fostering collaboration and innovation for the future.