Top technology events in the Gulf in 2026–27

This list covers ten technology events in Saudi Arabia and the UAE between October 2026 and April 2027. Each one is listed on atndr, has a confirmed 2026–27 date and venue on its official site, and is built around technology: general tech, AI, data centres, telecoms, payments, cybersecurity, security technology or digital health.

The list is ordered by date, not ranked by size. Instead, each entry says who the event is for and what it costs to get in. The figures quoted are the organizers' own, from their official pages in September 2026.

Two things shaped the list. First, the season: almost every major Gulf technology event falls between October and April, when the weather suits travel. Second, geography: Dubai and Riyadh host nearly all of them. Qatar's largest technology event, Web Summit Qatar, runs in Doha from 31 January to 3 February 2027, but it is not listed on atndr yet, so it is named here without a ranking entry.

For a Saudi-only view with a month-by-month calendar, read the guide to technology events in Saudi Arabia.

1. NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum UAE 2026

8 October 2026 · Dubai · Kempinski Central Avenue. A one-day forum for banks, payment service providers, fintechs and regulators. The agenda covers fraud and scams, AML/KYC, real-time payments, digital assets and agentic payments. It made the list as the first payments-regulation event of the season, and it suits compliance and payments teams who want a small room. Tickets are sold on the organizer's site.

2. Dubai AI Festival 2026

26–27 October 2026 · Dubai · Dubai World Trade Centre. An AI conference and exhibition organized with DIFC, aimed at founders, enterprises, government and investors. It includes a startup competition, the FutureTech World Cup. The Event Pass (exhibition and conference sessions) costs US$50. The Premium Networking Pass, which adds the attendee list and one-to-one meetings, costs US$2,400 until 12 October and US$3,000 after. Investor passes are by application.

3. Seamless Saudi Arabia 2026

9–10 November 2026 · Riyadh · Riyadh Front. Saudi Arabia's digital commerce and payments show, for retailers, banks, e-commerce companies and payment providers. The Event Pass for the exhibition and conference sessions is free. A Premium Networking Pass with meetings costs US$3,000.

4. Hyperscale Live KSA 2026

9–10 November 2026 · Riyadh · Riyadh Front. The event for the physical side of AI: data centre design, GPU capacity, power, cooling and financing. The organizer expects 3,000 attendees, 150 speakers and 150 exhibitors. Expo-only entry costs US$100 and the Premium Networking Pass US$3,000. C-level executives can apply for a guest pass.

5. Connected World KSA 2026

9–10 November 2026 · Riyadh · Riyadh Front. A conference and expo for wholesale telecoms: operators, carriers, subsea cable and satellite companies, and internet exchanges. It is co-located with Hyperscale Live, and the organizer cites more than 6,000 international attendees, 150 exhibitors and 50 start-ups. Pricing matches Hyperscale Live: US$100 expo-only, US$3,000 for premium networking.

6. Black Hat MEA 2026

1–3 December 2026 · Riyadh · Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre (Malham). The region's main cybersecurity event, for CISOs, security teams, ethical hackers and vendors. The organizer cites more than 40,000 attendees. The Expo Pass is free and covers the exhibition, Briefings and Arsenal. Gold costs US$349 (US$399 later) and adds two pre-arranged meetings. Black costs US$2,499 (US$3,099 later) and includes one training course.

7. GITEX Global 2026

7–11 December 2026 · Dubai. The GITEX Summit takes place on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre. The GITEX Global exhibition follows on 8–11 December at Expo City Dubai. This is the widest technology show on the list, covering AI, cybersecurity, data centres, mobility and startups. The visitor pass is paid. It covers the GITEX Global, Expand North Star and LivX exhibitions plus the free-to-attend conferences at Expo City, but not the Summit or certified trainings. The early-bird price ended on 29 September 2026.

8. Intersec Global 2027

12–14 January 2027 · Dubai · Dubai World Trade Centre. A security, fire and safety trade show with a cybersecurity and resilience product area. The organizer lists more than 1,000 exhibitors. It suits government buyers, integrators and anyone buying surveillance, control-room or access technology. Visitor registration is open on the official site.

9. WHX Tech 2027

26–28 January 2027 · Dubai · Dubai World Trade Centre. The digital health event of World Healthcare Week, covering AI in healthcare, interoperability and health-tech investment. The organizer expects more than 5,000 digital health professionals, 200 speakers and over 200 brands. The Advantage ticket costs AED 289 and the Platinum ticket AED 3,599. Both include access to the main WHX exhibition.

10. LEAP 2027

12–15 April 2027 · Riyadh · Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre (Malham). Saudi Arabia's largest technology event, with the AI event DeepFest alongside it. The organizer cites more than 200,000 attendees. The General Pass is free during early-bird pricing and US$50 after. Priority costs US$400 early bird (US$800 standard) and VIP US$2,800 (US$3,500 standard).

The table puts the ten events side by side. Entry prices are the lowest published pass in September 2026.

The live list of upcoming events is on atndr's pages for technology events in the UAE and technology events in Saudi Arabia.

Pick by what you need from the trip, not by attendance. A two-day specialist event where every visitor buys in your niche can produce more useful meetings than a five-day flagship.

• Broad technology market, many suppliers in one trip: GITEX Global 2026 in December or LEAP 2027 in April. They sit four months apart, so most companies can do both.
• Cybersecurity: Black Hat MEA 2026. Its free Expo Pass makes it a low-cost first visit.
• AI business and investment: Dubai AI Festival 2026, or DeepFest at LEAP.
• Data centres and connectivity: Hyperscale Live KSA 2026 and Connected World KSA 2026. They share a venue and dates, so one trip covers both.
• Payments and fintech: Seamless Saudi Arabia 2026 in Riyadh or NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum UAE 2026 in Dubai.
• Health technology: WHX Tech 2027.
• Physical security and resilience: Intersec Global 2027.

The week of 9–10 November 2026 is the most efficient trip on the calendar: Seamless, Hyperscale Live and Connected World all run at Riyadh Front on the same two days. For a checklist to judge any event before paying, see the guide on how to choose a technology conference.

Book early for December. GITEX and Black Hat MEA fall within two weeks of each other, and Dubai hotels near Expo City and the World Trade Centre fill fast that month.

• Register online before you travel. Most free passes need advance registration, and some paid tiers rise in price in phases.
• Check which venue your badge covers. GITEX splits across two Dubai venues. Malham, which hosts LEAP and Black Hat MEA, is outside central Riyadh, and Black Hat MEA runs a bus from the SAB metro station.
• Check visa rules on official government sites. Requirements differ by nationality and by whether you attend or exhibit.