GITEX GLOBAL 2024, recognized as the world’s premier tech and startup gathering, hosted the largest data center event in the Middle East on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The event showcased the region’s ambition to solidify its leadership in the rapidly growing global data center industry.

The conference spotlighted the significant role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming data infrastructure. Leading enterprises offered attendees a glimpse into cutting-edge innovations, setting the stage for the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centers.

The “Data Centres Universe” segment of the event focused on how growth is being achieved within the sector. Key players such as Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo gathered to share insights on the industry’s trajectory. They explored strategies for accelerating growth and highlighted the role of expanding data centers in fostering AI-powered innovation.

During a panel discussion, Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, emphasized that the development of data centers not only fuels market growth but also drives talent development and job creation. Al Naqbi dispelled the misconception that data centers are not job generators, stating: “Data centers are vital for economies and have different roles involved. If you look at all the hyperscales, their data centers are having a huge impact on the economy as people can secure jobs which are vital for the day-to-day operations”.

The conversation also shifted to the future, with industry experts stressing the importance of sustainability in their expansion as next-generation technologies and services continue to evolve.

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Marc Marazzi, Vice President of Legrand Data Center Solutions, shared his thoughts on the need for thoughtful planning in the rapidly expanding sector. He stressed the importance of balancing growth with environmental responsibility, noting: “Today, [data centers] are bigger than ever before and being built faster, but we must not lose sight of the importance of how we manufacture, what we are installing, and how they are managed”.

The hugely successful GITEX GLOBAL 2024 concludes today with Futuristic Friday, showcasing breakthrough technologies including quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech.