As our team prepares for Capacity Middle East 2026, we've rounded up the best resources to help you brush up on important topics before you go.
The 2026 conference—held February 10-12 in Dubai—will tackle big topics like how the Middle East is preparing for AI, and how the telecom industry recovered from February’s Red Sea cable cuts.
There are several headlines that weave in and out of this year's agenda.
The 2026 event has been paired with Iraq Connect, a one-day program meant to unite the region’s digital infrastructure executives; government officials and investors committed to building the digital future of Iraq.
The Iraqi Telecom market was valued at $2.5 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow due to increasing smartphone penetration, rising internet usage, and government initiatives promoting digital infrastructure development. Iraq’s strategic location as a bridge between the Middle East and Europe, and its potential to offer low-latency, land-based connectivity routes also makes it an attractive proposition to create alternative terrestrial routes from Asia to Europe bypassing the traditional Red Sea cables landing in Southern Europe.
February 9 is dedicated to programming on this topic.
As the week continues, there will be much conversation around undersea cables. Several new cable systems have been announced or will be RFS in the next year, including intercontinental systems like SEAMEWE 6 which, connects Europe and Asia.
TeleGeography Research Director Rob Schult will lead a panel focused on these new cables coming to the region. And Senior Research Manager Paul Brodsky will deliver an overview of the regional cable market. Catch up on Paul's slides from last year.
There are a few items that will get you up to speed before the February conference:
If you’re not registered already, you can do so over here. TeleGeography readers can save on admission with the code TELEGEOGRAPHY10.