Technology week opens in Dubai today

Top leaders from some the largest tech and telecom companies in the world converge on Dubai today for the "Gitex Technology Week" that will encourage 3,500 conference corporate attendees to seek innovation and redefine the future. Organizers are expecting 136,000 visitors to pass through the doors this week to hear corporate chieftains who helm multi-billion corporations discuss next-steps strategies regarding technologies that have changed the way we live, the UAE daily (Gulf News) reported. The five-day event will gather some big guns in the ICT industry who will deliver keynote speeches such as Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Research in Motion, makers of the BlackBerry, and Rod Beckstrom, CEO and president of the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Helal Saeed Al Merri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, said at an advance press conference that "we are expecting a bigger turnout this year," noting this year''s show will eclipse past Gitex gatherings. "From the net space sold, it is the largest in our history," he said, referring to a jump in recent years in leased space to exhibitors from 35,000 square meters to 75,000 meters.