Gartner CIO & IT Executive Conference 2025 Gears Up in Dubai

According to information compiled by FEW.ae editor, the upcoming Gartner CIO & IT Executive Conference 2025 in Dubai is shaping up to be one of the region’s most significant gatherings of IT leadership, technology strategists and innovation stakeholders. The three-day event brings together hundreds of CIOs, IT executives, Gartner analysts and solution providers, all converging to explore the challenges and opportunities in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the evolving role of technology in business.

Venue & Facilities at Grand Hyatt Dubai

The conference will take place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, located on Riyadh Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, in the heart of Dubai. The hotel is a five-star luxury resort with lush gardens, creek or skyline vistas, and extensive event infrastructure.

Grand Hyatt’s event capabilities are robust: it offers over 11,500 square meters of combined indoor and outdoor event space, including a modern Conference & Exhibition Centre of approximately 5,000 m² with a ceiling height of 12 m, plus ballrooms, pre-function areas and breakout rooms. The Baniyas Ballroom alone spans over 3,200 m² and can host up to 2,500 guests in certain configurations. Among its 14 meeting rooms, the hotel can accommodate smaller sessions from a few dozen up to hundreds of participants.

In terms of technical infrastructure, the property provides high-speed Wi-Fi, state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, projectors, lighting rigs, and full event support for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) operations. The meeting and conference spaces are reported to support gatherings ranging from 20 to 4,000 attendees depending on configuration.

Dates, Schedule & Program Highlights

The Gartner CIO & IT Executive Conference will run from 6 to 8 October 2025 in Dubai. Over the course of three days, attendees will engage in keynotes, track sessions, workshops, roundtables, “Ask the Expert” forums, solution-provider showcases, one-on-one meetings with Gartner analysts, and networking receptions.

Among the opening highlights:

• Gartner Opening Keynote: Walking The Golden Path to Value, delivered by Jennifer Carter and Ed Gabrys, will address how organizations can balance AI adoption, workforce readiness and vendor alignment. gartner.com
• Core tracks include Strategic Leadership, Emerging Technologies, Infrastructure & Operations, Data & Analytics, Intelligent Applications, and Cybersecurity.
• Sample sessions: “Top Trends for Cybersecurity 2025”; “Mastering Cloud Financial Management”; “High-Performing Executive Leadership”; and “Roundtable: At What Pace Are You Adopting AI?”

Each attendee can tailor their schedule via the Gartner Conference Navigator app, pre-registering for workshops or small sessions since spaces are limited.

On the exhibition side, over 25 solution providers are expected to showcase their capabilities, offering interactive product demonstrations and alignment to mission-critical priorities. The exhibitor line-up includes companies such as MDS System Integration (MDS SI), ThreatLocker, UnifyApps, Airia, Axonius, and CME among others.

Ticket pricing is published as AED 23,700 + VAT for standard registration, with a public-sector rate of AED 17,825 + VAT, after verifying eligibility.Discounts apply for group registrations (e.g. one free registration per four paid, etc.) depending on organization size.

Attendee Logistics & Local Conditions

Transportation & Access: The Grand Hyatt Dubai is well-positioned with road access from Sheikh Rashid Road and proximity to central Dubai landmarks. Attendees arriving by air will find the hotel about a 10-minute drive from Dubai International Airport. Depending on traffic, shuttle options or ride-hail services may be used.

Weather: October in Dubai remains hot and dry, though somewhat cooler than peak summer months. Daily highs typically range between 32–36 °C (90–97 °F), and nighttime lows around 22–25 °C. Rainfall is extremely rare, and sunshine is abundant (roughly 10 hours per day). Humidity is moderate, and UV levels are high, so sun protection should be a consideration for outdoor segments.

Onsite Navigation: Given the expansive layout of the venue, attendees are advised to map their session paths in advance, factor in walking times between ballrooms and exhibit halls, and make use of signage and conference staff. The pre-function areas and foyers are designed to support registration traffic, breaks, and sponsor branding.

Organizers, Speakers & Format

The conference is organized by Gartner Inc., the renowned global research and advisory firm known for its data-driven insight, market analysis and executive events. Gartner will bring more than 30 onsite analysts and contributors to moderate sessions, host one-on-ones, deliver research briefings and guide strategic conversations.

Featured speakers include Mary Mesaglio, Gene Alvarez, David Furlonger, and Dave Aron, among others. Key sessions rotate across tracks tailored to technology, leadership, innovation and operational excellence.

Rather than a purely lecture-style format, the conference emphasizes interactivity: roundtables, workshops, small-group discussions, and “Ask the Expert” sessions offer hands-on problem solving. The CIO Circle Program, an exclusive subset for top CIOs and tech executives, offers curated executive discussions and peer engagement. gartner.com

What to Watch & Expectations

• CIOs and IT leaders will look for actionable frameworks for scaling AI, optimizing cloud, navigating cybersecurity risk, and aligning tech with business outcomes.
• The exhibitor showcase will allow participants to benchmark technologies, validate solution roadmaps and engage in vendor briefings.
• Networking moments, peer roundtables and social receptions will be critical for forging alliances and exchanging lessons across industries.
• Post-event, participants are expected to walk away with strategic insights, conference session recordings, access to Gartner research, and concrete plans to apply new learnings in their organizations.

This edition is set to reaffirm the GCC and MENA region as a pivotal node in global tech discourse, drawing thought leadership and innovation energy to Dubai. The mix of rich content, robust infrastructure and peer networking makes it a must-attend for those shaping the technology agenda in their institutions.