By Ayomide Otitoju
The United Arab Emirates and Türkiye have signed a landmark agreement to launch GITEX Ai Türkiye, a major artificial intelligence (AI) and technology exhibition set to become Türkiye and Eurasia’s most influential tech gathering.
The partnership was formalized on the sidelines of GITEX GLOBAL 2025 in Dubai, the world’s largest technology event, drawing top global enterprises, startups, and innovators.
Organized by KAOUN International, in collaboration with the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology, GITEX Ai Türkiye will take place from September 9–10, 2026, at the Istanbul Expo Centre. The event will feature immersive showcases spanning AI, cybersecurity, fintech, gaming, cloud computing, and connectivity, bringing together innovators and investors from across the world.
The agreement was signed by Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International and Global Organiser of GITEX; Gökhan Yücel, Senior Vice President, Communications and Marketing at the Investment and Finance Office; and Sadullah Uzun, Director General of National Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
Yücel highlighted Türkiye’s strategic role in the global AI ecosystem, noting that the country is home to over 1,000 active AI startups and 1,300 certified R&D centers. “With Türkiye on a mission to position itself as the nexus of the global AI movement, GITEX Ai Türkiye is where capital meets code—accelerating homegrown models and strengthening our digital infrastructure,” he said.
Uzun emphasized the country’s growing innovation capacity, pointing to initiatives such as Türkiye TechVisa—which attracts global AI talent—and Turcorn 100, a program designed to support startups scaling internationally. “The launch of GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 underscores our growing role in shaping the global AI landscape,” he stated.
LohMirmand described Türkiye as “the bridge between East and West, where cultures, ideas, and opportunities collide and thrive,” adding that the event will transform Istanbul into “a cross-border corridor of AI digital excellence.”
GITEX Ai Türkiye is expected to elevate Türkiye’s domestic AI ambitions through global collaboration, advancing its position as a technology hub at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Analysts predict that accelerating AI adoption across Türkiye’s public sector could generate up to $4 billion in annual savings and add 1% to national GDP, underscoring the transformative economic potential of the initiative.
