News

The GITEX GLOBAL Tech Fair Has Opened Its Doors In Dubai

Over 1,000 AI-related companies are participating, according to event organizers.

Published

2 years ago

October 16, 2023

the gitex global tech fair has opened its doors in dubai

Dubai is hosting the 43rd edition of GITEX Global, one of the world’s largest tech shows with 2.7 million square feet of exhibition space, and a place where the best and brightest minds come together to shape the future of technology.

Around 6,000 exhibitors will be showing off their products at the five-day conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with off-shoot events at Dubai Harbour and the Museum of the Future. Among those participating are over 1,000 AI-related companies and global players, including Microsoft, Huawei, and Salesforce.

Industry leaders are joined by local UAE AI innovators G42, along with the Advanced Technology Research Council and Juniper Networks, who will announce locally hosted cloud and AI-driven networking solutions.

The Dubai Harbour section of the event will host Expand North Star, a gathering of over 1,800 next-gen startups from around the world. The themes include Fintech Surge, a Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania.

UAE Vice-President and ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a regular of the event, was also seen checking out the latest innovations.

“Gitex is similar to Dubai in how it grows rapidly. It is similar to Dubai in embracing the best minds from 180 countries. It is similar to Dubai in its passion for everything new that contributes to changing our future for the better,” Sheikh Mohammed posted on X, formally known as Twitter.

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So far, the highlight of GITEX Global has been the first live demonstration of ARTEMIS, the world’s fastest-walking humanoid robot. The machine was developed by UCLA researchers and stands at 142 cm tall, weighing 38 kilograms. ARTEMIS, which stands for Advanced Robotic Technology for Enhanced Mobility and Improved Stability, can walk on rough and unstable surfaces and even play football!

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Expand North Star hosted a panel discussion about using AI and machine learning to “create products that dent the universe”. The panel featured spokespersons from global names such as Bolt, Reddit, and Booking.com, who shared best practices and tips.

News

AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs

Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2025

Nour Nasir

AltoVolo

AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.

The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.

“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.

The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.

To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.

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Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.

Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.