Yesterday, I attended GITEX 2005 or Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, the biggest IT event in the Middleeast and organized each year in Dubai World Trade Centre before the Holy Month of Ramadan but this time, there is something different about it, GITEX has completed its 25 years showcasing latest IT-related products from different regional and international vendors under one roof.
The full day yesterday was dedicated to the event, I left the office at 10am, and parking near the venue was terrible. After this, a queue awaited me at the “Fast Track Registration” inside the hall and it took another 30 minutes to clear.
After getting the pass, I headed straight to the Microsoft pavilion, where Microsoft “unveiled” SQL Server 2005 and VS2005. But sadly, besides two presentations on each, there were no give-aways.
Besides new product info, GITEX also provides a solid opportunity to meet new people and build future contacts. Among many other people, I met two important personalities from Pakistan, Mr. Vaqar Khamisani and Madam Jehan Ara.
Mr. Vaqar Khamisani works for Microsoft and is also an MVP Lead. He is a very well known person in Pakistan. He was quick to recognize me after our recent meeting in PDC’05 in Karachi. 
Madam Jehan Ara is the President of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), she was kind to give me a few minutes and I quickly snapped a photo with her. 
I returned back to the office at 8pm with loads of brochures, mags and business cards. So if you are around, you should definitely visit GITEX and don’t forget to carry a lot of business cards, you’re really going to need them.
