GITEX Global and Expand North Star will return to Dubai this December with a new venue arrangement, a revised format, and an expanded agenda spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, digital infrastructure, and other emerging technologies.
The events will bring together major technology companies, startups, investors, and government representatives from around the world. Chinese companies are expected to have a substantial presence, with Huawei and Alibaba Cloud among the participants, alongside a contingent of robotics developers showcasing advances in embodied intelligence.
The 46th edition of GITEX Global will begin with a one-day summit at Dubai World Trade Centre on December 7, followed by four days of exhibitions and conferences at Expo City Dubai from December 8 to 11. Expand North Star, its accompanying startup and investor showcase, will run from December 8 to 10 at the same venue.
The arrangement marks a change from 2025, when GITEX Global took place at Dubai World Trade Centre and Expand North Star was held separately at Dubai Harbour. The move will bring enterprise technology exhibitors, startups, and investors together at a single location.
Organizers expect more than 6,000 participating technology companies and startups, over 400 government entities, and more than 750 investors representing nearly USD 2 trillion in assets under management.
Under the theme “The Global Reset 2027, Through a New Lens,” this year’s program will examine how AI is shaping economic competitiveness, national technology strategies, and investment priorities. Much of the discussion will focus on the infrastructure needed to support increasingly sophisticated AI systems, from computing capacity and energy supply to cybersecurity and data sovereignty.
Chinese companies return with sizable robotics contingent
China is expected to account for a sizable share of GITEX Global’s international exhibitors. According to the exhibitor directory as of November 11, more than one-fifth of listed entries were from China, second only to the UAE.
Among them are Alibaba Cloud, Ant Group, China Mobile, ZTE, and iFlytek, representing areas such as cloud computing, telecommunications, enterprise AI, and digital infrastructure.
Huawei, a platinum sponsor of GITEX Global 2026, has confirmed plans for a 1,225-square-meter exhibition space. Under the theme “Advancing the Agentic World,” it will present technologies spanning computing, networking, cloud services, and intelligent enterprise applications, alongside industry forums and executive roundtables.
Huawei senior vice president Phillip Gan is also among the announced speakers, alongside other Chinese technology executives, including Agibot co-founder and COO Jiang Qingsong.
Robotics is another area where Chinese companies will feature prominently, particularly through the launch of GITEX World RobotiX, a dedicated showcase of humanoid robots, autonomous machines, and embodied intelligence.
The new showcase comes amid growing interest in physical AI, which refers broadly to intelligent systems capable of perceiving and interacting with their surroundings. According to Counterpoint Research, global humanoid robot shipments exceeded 22,000 units in the first half of 2026, an increase of nearly 300% year-on-year.
China has emerged as a major supplier in the sector. Counterpoint ranked Agibot and Unitree as the world’s two largest humanoid robot suppliers by shipments during the period. Both companies participated in GITEX Global 2025.
Unitree will return this year alongside other Chinese robotics companies, including UBTech Robotics, Deep Robotics, Booster Robotics, and Pudu Robotics. Agibot’s products will also be showcased through UAE-based systems integrator Lootah Robotics.
Other planned demonstrations include the Middle East debut of MOS 2, a wheeled industrial robot developed by China’s Lumos Robotics. The robot can handle payloads of up to 50 kilograms and operate for more than eight hours. Raydiculous, a robotics developer associated with the Chengdu Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, will also make its regional debut with interactive humanoid and bionic robotic systems.
Beyond robotics, GITEX Global will introduce or expand dedicated showcases covering data centers, energy, autonomous mobility, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and longevity. These include LivX by GITEX, which will explore applications of AI in drug discovery, genomics, precision diagnostics, and other areas of healthcare.
Expand North Star brings startups and investors back under one roof
Meanwhile, Expand North Star will focus on bringing early- and growth-stage companies together with investors, corporate partners, and potential customers.
The event will feature startup exhibitions, investor matchmaking, and pitching activities across sectors including AI, healthcare, and more.
Among its planned attractions is Supernova OX, a startup pitching competition featuring 60 companies competing for a share of USD 115,000 in equity-free prizes, according to the organizers. The event will also introduce initiatives such as the Founder’s Pass, which allows startups to secure dedicated exhibition space for a day, and Apollo100, a program designed to connect businesses with international markets.
The emphasis on market access is particularly relevant as technology companies increasingly look beyond their home markets for customers, funding, and commercial partnerships.
For Chinese participants, Dubai offers a meeting point with buyers and investors from the Middle East and beyond. The presence of robotics and AI infrastructure companies also points to a broader push to expand China’s technology exports beyond established sectors such as consumer electronics and telecommunications.