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GITEX GLOBAL 2024 Hosts MENA’s Largest Data Center Forum

The conference highlighted innovations in AI-driven infrastructure, job creation, and sustainable practices.

Published

2 years ago

October 18, 2024

gitex global 2024 hosts mena's largest data center forum

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.

News

For etisalat, More Bandwidth Is A Matter Of Digital Sovereignty

The etisalat group plans to expand its international capacity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, with new routes designed for speed and resilience.

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2026

Nour Nasir

for etisalat, more bandwidth is a matter of digital sovereignty

Emirates News Agency

By 2030, etisalat group plans to lift its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps), more than 25 times the 20 Tbps it has today. The group presented the expansion as preparation for rising AI demand and an important move for the UAE’s digital sovereignty.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the project, which covers the UAE and international markets. Sheikh Mansour is also Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, etisalat group’s main shareholder.

He emphasized the role of coordinated national efforts in advancing the UAE’s AI and digital economy ambitions. “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward,” he said, adding that developing the country’s digital capabilities would empower every institution, public and private, to build and innovate with AI “at the scale the coming decade will demand”.

“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it,” said H.E Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group. “That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future”. He cast greater international connectivity as a strategic answer to the challenges of processing and moving data globally.

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Beyond raw bandwidth, the expansion will introduce new connectivity routes intended to improve reliability and efficiency, and Alzaabi tied them directly to the sovereignty goal. “Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

He also linked the plan to the group’s 50-year commitment to building infrastructure for the nation. The announcement didn’t mention what the expansion will cost. Nor did it name the new routes or say who will build them, the details that would show what digital sovereignty means in practice.