Top technology events in the Gulf in 2026–27

This list covers eleven technology events in the six Gulf states between October 2026 and April 2027. Each one is listed on atndr, has its 2026–27 dates and venue confirmed on its official site, and is built around technology: general tech, AI, telecoms, data centres, payments, cybersecurity or digital health.

The list is ordered by date, not ranked by size. Each entry says who the event is for and what it costs to get in. Figures and prices are the organizers' own, re-checked on their official pages on 13 October 2026. Ai Everything Abu Dhabi (6–7 October 2026) has taken place and was removed.

Three rules shaped the list:

1. Technology is the main subject. Security trade shows such as Intersec, where technology is one sector among many, are left out. See top security events in the Gulf for those.
2. One event per niche in each country, so the list does not fill up with similar AI conferences.
3. Every Gulf state is covered where atndr lists a leading event. Saudi Arabia and the UAE host most of the list. Qatar, Bahrain and Oman each have a national flagship. Kuwait's technology events on atndr are smaller conferences, so it has no entry.

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

1. 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. The Event Pass (exhibition and conference sessions) costs US$50. On 13 October 2026 the Premium Networking Pass was listed at US$2,100, against a full price of US$3,000.

2. BITEX 2026 & MEET ICT Conference

27–28 October 2026 · Manama · Gulf Convention Centre, Gulf Hotel. Bahrain's main technology exhibition, held alongside the MEET ICT Conference. The 2026 theme is "AI: Driving the Digital Economy of Tomorrow". It suits ICT vendors and CIOs targeting the Bahraini market. Visitors register on the official site.

3. MWC26 Doha

8–10 November 2026 · Doha · Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC). The GSMA's MENA edition of MWC, for telecom operators, technology firms and regulators. Its 2025 edition drew 9,500 attendees from 110 countries, with 250+ exhibitors and sponsors. In 2026 it shares the DECC with ITU PP-26, the UN telecoms agency's plenipotentiary conference (9–27 November). Passes are paid.

4. 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 was US$1,400 on 13 October 2026, against a full price of US$3,000.

5. 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. Connected World KSA 2026, for wholesale telecoms, runs alongside it with the same pricing.

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. Early-bird pricing has ended, and the ticket page lists Gold at US$349–399 and Black, which adds one training course, at US$2,499–3,099.

7. GITEX Global 2026

7–11 December 2026 · Dubai. The GITEX Summit takes place on 7 December, and the GITEX Global exhibition follows on 8–11 December at Expo City Dubai. It is the widest technology show on the list. The visitor pass is paid and also covers Expand North Star 2026, the startup show at the same venue.

8. 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. The Advantage ticket costs AED 289 and includes the main WHX exhibition.

9. Web Summit Qatar 2027

31 January–3 February 2027 · Doha · Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC). The Qatar edition of Web Summit, a conference built around startups, investors and founders rather than a product floor. It suits founders raising money, investors and corporate innovation teams. Tickets are sold on the official site.

10. COMEX 2027

1–4 February 2027 · Muscat · Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. Oman's technology show, now in its 35th edition, which the organizer calls the region's longest-running technology exhibition. It spans five areas: e-government, enterprise, tech startups, gaming and esports, and banking and fintech. The organizer reports 90,000+ visitors and 438+ participating entities at the 2025 edition. It opens 10am to 9pm daily.

11. LEAP 2027

12–15 April 2027 · Riyadh · Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre (Malham). Saudi Arabia's largest technology event, with the AI event DeepFest 2027 alongside it. The organizer cites 175,000+ attendees. On 13 October 2026 the ticket page listed the General Pass as free (US$50 at full price), Priority at US$400 (US$800) and VIP at US$2,800 (US$3,500).

The table puts the eleven events side by side. Entry is the lowest published pass on 13 October 2026, or "Registration" where the organizer asks visitors to register without a published price.

Four of the eleven are in Saudi Arabia, three in the UAE, two in Qatar and one each in Bahrain and Oman. The live lists are 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.

• Broad technology market: GITEX Global 2026 in December or LEAP 2027 in April. They sit four months apart, so most companies can do both.
• Startups and fundraising: Web Summit Qatar 2027 in Doha, or Expand North Star at GITEX.
• AI business and investment: Dubai AI Festival 2026 in October, or DeepFest at LEAP in April. In Abu Dhabi, Global AI Show Abu Dhabi 2026 (18–19 November 2026) is a smaller option.
• Telecoms: MWC26 Doha for operators and regulators, Connected World KSA 2026 for wholesale carriers.
• Data centres: Hyperscale Live KSA 2026 in Riyadh, or DCD Connect MENA 2026 (26–27 October 2026) in Dubai.
• Payments and fintech: Seamless Saudi Arabia 2026 in Riyadh, or Seamless Middle East 2027 (24–26 May 2027) in Dubai.
• Cybersecurity: Black Hat MEA 2026. Its free Expo Pass makes it a low-cost first visit. GISEC Global 2027 in Dubai follows in May 2027.
• Health technology: WHX Tech 2027.
• A national market: BITEX 2026 & MEET ICT Conference for Bahrain, COMEX 2027 for Oman. In Kuwait, the 5th Digital Transformation Kuwait Conference (9–10 November 2026) is a two-day government and industry forum.

The most efficient trip is 9–10 November 2026, when Seamless, Hyperscale Live and Connected World share Riyadh Front, with MWC26 Doha a short flight away. Web Summit Qatar and COMEX overlap in early February 2027, so pick one. For a checklist to judge any event before paying, see how to choose a technology conference.

Book early for December. GITEX and Black Hat MEA fall within a week 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.
• Plan for Doha in November. MWC26 Doha shares the DECC with a three-week UN conference, so book hotels early.
• Check visa rules on official government sites. Requirements differ by nationality, by country and by whether you attend or exhibit.