The 35th edition of GITEX Technology Week was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum at Dubai World Trade Center.

The five-day event is expected to draw more than 140,000 visitors from over 140 countries.

More than 3,600 companies from over 62 countries have signed up for the event.

Connected cloud technology such as mobile apps, e-government, drones, 3D printing, and robotics will form the foundation of the region’s rapidly-growing Future Cities — a key spotlight at the landmark 35th GITEX Technology Week, running until Oct. 22

By 2025, the global Smart Cities market will reach $3.3 trillion, with nearly half of the world’s 26 Smart Cities arising in emerging markets such as the Middle East.

“Spearheaded by regional investment and development, the Middle East continues to be a significant pace setter in driving forward innovative discussion, implementation and knowledge exchange around IoT agendas,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, Dubai World Trade Center, organizers of GITEX Technology Week 2015.

“In testament to this, the 35th anniversary of GITEX Technology Week will be our most expansive and international edition to date,” he said.

“Our roster of world-renowned thought leaders and global technology companies reflect the strong demand for how Internet of Things technologies such as drones, robotics, and 3D printing can impact daily lives and every industry vertical in the Middle East and beyond,” he added.

Celebrating transformative technology in the build-up to UAE Innovation Week and in line with the UAE’s Year of Innovation, GITEX Technology Week 2015 will be held under the theme of “The Internet Future of Everything,” revolving around the pillars of Innovation, Connected Cloud, Big Data, Mobility, and Security.

Focusing on driving collaboration and next-generation agenda setting, a host of new initiatives are being spearheaded for the 2015 event.

In tandem with the Year of Innovation, the GTX Horizons Zone will showcase leading edge demonstrations of next generation disruptive technologies across 3D Printing, autonomous vehicles, drones and robotics.

Innovation, interoperation and disruption will continue as themes across the GTX Ignite conference, a powerhouse of global thought leadership, and GTX Innovation Tech Talks, free to attend sessions, that will host over 100 sessions with 150-plus global futurists, including the prime minister of Estonia, ICT ministers from Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria, and senior executives from Accenture, BP, Boeing, and Facebook.

In partnership with the UAE Drones for Good Award, GTX Horizons’ Drones Zone will host a selection of this year’s award winners, and drones from top manufacturers such as DJI, the world’s largest manufacturer of drones.

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