Last month, GITEX Global 2025 wrapped up in Dubai, reaffirming its status as the largest platform for conversations about technology, urban ecosystems, and digital infrastructure. For five days, the exhibition halls were filled with companies from more than 180 countries, and the total number of exhibitors exceeded 6,800. At the same time, investors and government customers showed unprecedented focus on applied innovation: the market is shifting from conceptual demonstrations to ready-made systems tested on real data.
Estonia’s role at GITEX: a digital blueprint in focus
Among the national pavilions, Estonia maintained a prominent position, continuing its reputation as a global benchmark for digital governance. Visitors were particularly interested in how a functional digital state operates on a daily basis: how identities are managed securely, how agencies exchange data, and how citizens interact with government platforms using legally binding digital signatures. Delegations approached the pavilion not merely out of curiosity, but in search of structured frameworks that could be adapted to emerging national strategies.
According to Natalia Minayeva, a Bamboo Group Strategic Partnership Executive, “Estonia always attracts people from various countries across the Gulf and South Asia. This year, there were many visitors from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan… Estonia is identified by many companies as a digitally advanced country, and the interest is also associated with e-residency.” The geographical diversity of visiting delegations shows that governments across the region are approaching digital transformation strategically, prioritizing interoperability and legal certainty over isolated technology projects.
Across conversations, it became evident that visitors drew most attention to architecture rather than solely the end-user experience. Natalia added, “There is interest; they want to learn in more detail how things are arranged in a digital country. They are also keen to see the practical products and solutions companies can provide to implement these digital strategies.”
The Estonian pavilion traditionally highlights cybersecurity, e-governance, secure data exchange, IoT-based infrastructure, and critical service continuity. These themes resonated strongly in 2025, as many countries in the region are evaluating long-term strategies for digital identity management and the adoption of trusted platforms that can scale across agencies and municipalities.
Bamboo Group on the national pavilion
Bamboo Group exhibited as part of the Estonian national pavilion, joining a strong lineup of local technology companies including Dexatel, Nortal, OMNICOMM, SelectZero, CybExer Technologies, Hardmeier OÜ (FoxSec).
Smart Locks Pro demonstrations
The primary focus for Bamboo Group this year was Smart Locks Pro. It is a smart infrastructure solution designed to secure remote and critical assets such as substations and industrial enclosures. The live demonstration of the solution drew continuous attention. According to IT Solutions Manager Kate Kurilo, “Visitors were most curious about where the device could be installed, how far it could be controlled remotely, and whether notifications could be tailored to operational needs.”
Engagement was particularly high from distributors and system integrators in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who explored local deployment and resale opportunities. “A few companies showed their intent to promote the product in their domestic markets,” Kate noted.
The discussions reflected a clear market signal: organizations are seeking practical, ready-to-implement security technologies that integrate smoothly with existing workflows and can be deployed gradually without adding complexity to field operations.
Bamboo Group’s notable meetings and collaborations
At GITEX, Bamboo Group held a series of strategic discussions with regional leaders across banking, telecom, public transport, and other sectors.
One of the most prominent meetings for Bamboo Group was with representatives from alinma, one of the largest financial services institutions in Saudi Arabia. The dialogue focused on the future of banking and their commitment to advancing #SaudiVision2030 through innovation.
The team also had valuable conversations with ZainTECH, a regional integrated digital solutions provider. As a result, the two companies agreed on collaboration to bring Bamboo Group’s Smart Locks Pro and IVO solutions to the MENA region.
Another highlight was the launch of cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai to explore digital innovations for marine transport. This partnership aims to improve the quality of passenger service, simplify travel bookings, and prepare for the future introduction of modern vessels.
During the key meeting on October 16, the Bamboo Group team was accompanied by H.E. Liisa Pakosta, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs of Estonia, and H.E. Maria Belovas, Ambassador of Estonia to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Moreover, Bamboo Group attended the intergovernmental forum on innovation between Estonia and the UAE, held at Dubai Chambers. Organized exclusively by the Embassy of Estonia in the UAE under Ambassador Maria Belovas, in collaboration with the UAE–Estonia Business Council, the forum provided a high-level platform for dialogue on the “Smart Gateway to Europe” initiative.
The program featured presentations from key leaders, including H.E. Mohammad Lootah, H.E. Liisa Pakosta, and Salem Al Shamsi, as well as a panel discussion on advancing digital and sustainable economies. The forum provided direct exposure to Estonia–UAE policy frameworks, strategic initiatives, and digital economy developments relevant to cross-border business.
Core topics and major trends shaping GITEX this year
Cybersecurity, sovereign clouds, and data trust
Cybersecurity took center stage across panels and demonstrations at GITEX 2025. The conversation extended beyond traditional defense mechanisms into areas such as simulation-based training, risk analytics, trusted data pipelines, and regulatory enforcement. Sovereign cloud strategies were widely discussed, reflecting national priorities around data jurisdiction and operational independence.
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, emphasized that building robust cyber-resilience and educating citizens is as critical as developing new technologies. They presented the UAE Cybersecurity Vision 2025, a national framework focused on collaboration, public awareness, and continuous innovation to strengthen the country’s digital defenses.
Local authorities and enterprises emphasized the importance of solutions that are not merely innovative but ready for rapid implementation. As Natalia observed, “A lot of attention is paid to cybersecurity, AI and its implementation, local and proprietary clouds, as well as IoT. The demand is mainly for turnkey solutions.” This sentiment demonstrated how the commercial narrative in the region is maturing: reliability, transparency, and speed of deployment are becoming decisive factors.
The maturation of physical AI
Physical AI was one of the most visible themes on the exhibition floor. These are autonomous robots capable of interacting safely with public environments. Unlike earlier iterations, many systems shown in 2025 were intended for operational deployment. Robots navigated dense crowds, assisted visitors, and interacted with environmental sensors.
The presence of these systems suggests a new phase in which robots are not novelties but an integral part of infrastructure. For vendors in mobility and telematics, this shift amplifies the importance of resilient communication layers and transparent data flows.
Urban mobility and digital infrastructure
This year’s edition of GITEX showcased renewed attention to urban mobility. Dubai presented an updated version of its AI-supported trackless tram concept, reflecting the city’s ambition for flexible, electrified transportation that integrates predictively with urban traffic data. On the exhibition floor, public-sector operators discussed multimodal orchestration, passenger experience, and the integration of analytics into everyday transport decision-making.
These conversations reinforced a prevailing expectation that data should be actionable in real time. For Bamboo Group, the alignment with these topics was clear, given the company’s focus on infrastructure visibility and secure device communication.
Biotech, digital health, and science transformation
GITEX Global 2025 also placed the spotlight on how technology is reshaping human health. Rather than focusing solely on automation or data efficiency, discussions explored how AI, biotechnology, and even quantum computing can help physicians diagnose conditions earlier, discover new therapies faster, and prevent illnesses before they occur.
Key speakers illustrated this momentum. Trevor Martin of Mammoth Biosciences highlighted how AI-enhanced CRISPR systems are moving closer to curing rare genetic diseases. Matt Angle of Paradromics demonstrated speech-restoration implants that gave patients with severe communication impairments a voice again. Ashley Zehnder of Fauna Bio showed how animal biology could inform new medicines for humans.
Across the exhibition, delegations expressed growing interest in predictive diagnostics, connected patient monitoring, and secure handling of medical research data. The message was clear: digital health is transitioning from supportive technology to a transformative force capable of improving quality of life at scale.
Looking ahead
GITEX 2025 demonstrated that digital transformation is an operational mandate across mobility, identity, logistics, and cybersecurity. Robots are entering public spaces, cloud sovereignty is shaping procurement policies, and urban infrastructure is becoming an interconnected web of sensors, vehicles, and services.
For Bamboo Group, participation on the Estonian national pavilion provided a strategic platform to connect with forward-looking stakeholders who were actively shaping their digital futures.
We extend our thanks to all partners, visitors, and colleagues who engaged in conversation with us throughout the exhibition. The pace of change in the region continues to accelerate, and Bamboo Group is committed to supporting this transformation through reliable, scalable, and intelligently integrated digital technologies.
