The Middle East region’s information and communication technology (ICT) market is set to jump from a projected $15 billion this year to $20 billion in 2020, outpacing the global average, according to market intelligence firm IDC.

The growth is being buoyed by region-wide investment in smart technology spending, boosted by infrastructure spending by the government sector, it said.

International technology professionals from more than 150 countries will discuss this emerging market growth at Gitex Technology Week 2014, which will run from October 12 to 16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

The event will host more than 3,700 exhibiting companies from 61 countries, as the positive trend spurs global demand for the event, which is a leading ICT event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (Measa).

Gitex Technology Week has also partnered with the world’s top ICT leaders to share transformational developments with regional companies across the show’s four knowledge themes: Smart, Cloud, Big Data and Mobility.

Helal Almarri, director general, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and chief executive officer, DWTC, said: “Dubai is set to transform into a ‘Smart City’ by harnessing technology to create better living conditions and new forms of developments for all people in Dubai and the UAE.

“Gitex Technology Week is privileged to contribute to this vision by facilitating the public-private partnership in knowledge exchange and sharing of achievements between the world’s leaders in smart innovations and local organisations leading the smart transformation of Dubai.”

With market research company, Gartner, anticipating a growth rate of eight per cent in regional ICT spending this year - compared with global growth of just 2.1 per cent - Ahmed Al Khaja, senior vice president, Venues, DWTC, added: “The significant regional ICT spend demonstrates the region’s aspiration in technology empowerment, as reflected in Gitex’s four knowledge themes - Smart innovation, Cloud Computing, Big Data and Mobility - which are expected to accelerate over coming years in terms of regional spend.”

With Dubai's Smart City roll-out predicted to catalyse an acceleration of Smart City initiatives in other GCC Countries, the event will showcase a pioneering app-based Smart Journey Tour featuring more than 25 Smart technology leaders, as well as government-led updates on the progress of the Dubai Smart City initiative.

As the show’s ‘Official Smart Experience Partner,’ Etisalat is collaborating with Gitex Technology Week to provide visitors with a seamless registration process – one aspect of a new ‘On Track for the Smart Experience’ initiative that aims to evolve the attendee experience by integrating the latest ICT innovations such as smart networking and interactive navigation and marketing.

Meanwhile, the Big Data Conference on October 14 will educate on how Big Data can deliver new insights and enhance return on investment (ROI) in a global Big Data market poised to jump from $3.2 billion last year to $15.1 billion by 2020.

Cloud Confex will also return as the region’s largest integrated cloud exhibition and conference on the same day. With the GCC cloud computing market due to post seven-fold growth and expand at a average growth rate of 32.8 per cent to reach $668.5 million by 2020, global leaders in data storage and management will present new cloud-based solutions at Gitex.

The Digital Strategies Forum on October 15 will help organisations use mobility to enhance customer interactions.

Global technology company Ericsson, Gitex GulfComms MEA Headline Sponsor, will demonstrate how mobility will enhance daily lives in Smart Cities.

With Gitex Technology Week presenting strategic investment inroads into the lucrative Middle East and African ICT markets, Africa’s largest economy and population, Nigeria will serve as the show’s Official Country Partner and represent Africa’s high-growth ICT market. Nigeria has 120 million mobile users and 87 per cent mobile penetration by population, according to IDC.

The event will also debut a range of innovative and exciting industry features catering to more than 1,500 delegates and 150 speakers including the Cloud Confex, Big DataConference, and Digital Strategies Forum.

At Industry Briefings, which is a key component of this year’s Gitex Trends – speakers will debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific knowledge platforms; Gitex After 5; the Bloggers Tweetup and Tech Talk Blogger Programme which will double attendance from regional and international bloggers.

The expanded event features include the official press reception ShowStoppers, online community ConneXions, live streaming of social media, trending topics and tech news via the Content Hub, the second Gitex Hot Stuff Awards recognising top gadgets and Gitex TV - the 53-screen in-house broadcast presence.

The Gitex Hot Stuff Awards, the Gitex Student Lab will recognise leading students in the field of technology innovation and connect them with industry professionals, while the second Gitex Cloud Awards will identity and recognise cloud computing excellence in the Middle East and Africa.

On the sidelines of the event, the second edition of the GSMA Mobile 360 Series: Middle East, a dedicated platform for senior executives from the region’s mobile industry, and the fourth edition of InfoComm MEA, a leading showcase of the latest professional audio-visual communications technology in the Middle East and Africa. - TradeArabia News Service