GITEX 2003, the 23rd edition of the show, will run from October 19 to 23 at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), which organizes the event, a statement said.

"GITEX 2003 will feature strong representation from Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Palestine, Spain, Taiwan and the UK, justifying the event's status as the leading IT show in the region," said DWTC director general Mubarak bin Fahd.

Telecommunications, computing, communications systems and applications, networking and Internet technologies will all be comprehensively featured, the statement said.

An October 18-24 "GITEX Computer Shopper," the fair's retail component, will cater for consumers looking to buy equipment for personal use.

Around 660 exhibitors from 37 countries attended the 2002 show, representing 1,520 companies, the statement said.

Dubai, one of the seven members of the United Arab Emirates, has blazed the way forward for IT in the Middle East, setting up Dubai Internet City and engaging in many other lavish projects in a bid to become the region's e-capital.

SPACE.WIRE