The tenth edition of Expand North Star concluded in Dubai on Wednesday, marking another milestone in the city’s rise as a global hub for digital entrepreneurship and innovation.
Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event brought together more than 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors managing assets worth $1.1tn, reaffirming its status as the world’s largest gathering for startups and investors.
The event underlined Dubai’s role in shaping the future of the digital economy and building a dynamic platform for strategic investment partnerships in advanced technology sectors.
Expand North Star concluded in Dubai
Among this year’s highlights were the founders of 40 unicorn companies with a combined valuation of $900bn.
Around 500 digital startups headquartered in the UAE also took part, including 116 Emirati-owned enterprises.
A further 50 startups joined through the “Emaratipreneur” initiative, which showcased the growing contributions of young Emirati innovators and entrepreneurs — a reflection of the UAE’s maturing digital ecosystem and the strength of local talent.
Global representation and new pavilions
Startups from Asia accounted for 41 per cent of all participants, followed by Europe (18 per cent), North America (7 per cent), and Latin America (7 per cent).
For the first time, national pavilions from the United States, Syria, Ecuador, and Chile joined the exhibition, expanding its international reach.
India stood out with around 300 participating startups, while Brazil recorded its largest presence yet, contributing more than 50 startups.
AI and climate tech take centre stage
Artificial intelligence dominated the agenda, representing 22 per cent of participating companies.
Other fast-growing sectors included climate tech (13 per cent), spanning energy, agriculture and food, healthtech (11 per cent), and fintech (11 per cent).
Additional focus areas included education technology, deep tech, adtech, mobility, cybersecurity and smart cities.
New features and innovation zones
Expand North Star 2025 introduced several new features designed to enhance collaboration and investor engagement:
- ScaleX: A curated access programme for 50 of the world’s fastest-growing tech scaleups
- North Star Green Impact: A dedicated zone for startups driving climate and environmental innovation
- Deeptech MEA Summit: Highlighting advanced research and frontier technology
- Digital Assets Forum: Addressing trends in blockchain and decentralised finance
These additions provided visitors with insights into the emerging trends shaping the future of global innovation and startup growth.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy pavilion
The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s pavilion attracted significant attention, offering visitors an overview of the emirate’s digital business environment.
Attendees explored the “Launchpad Dubai”’ programme, which offered a comprehensive package of services to support company setup and expansion — including access to Golden Visas.
The pavilion also showcased the ‘Business in Dubai’ platform, a core element of the Chamber’s mission to attract and empower digital companies through streamlined business support.
Global digital capital
Building on this year’s record success, Expand North Star has strengthened its position as a key pillar of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s long-term strategy to make Dubai the global capital for innovation and technology.
The event continues to play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth, attracting top-tier tech talent, and providing a powerful platform for collaboration between entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from across the world.
