In a world heading toward innovation and connectivity, Dubai is once again on its way to becoming the heartbeat of the global startup system. This October will witness the hosting of Expand North Star 2025 by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre. More than 1,800 startups and over 1,200 investors from around the world will meet in Dubai. This event marks the 10th anniversary of the largest gathering of startups and investors in the world, taking place at the stunning Dubai Harbour on October 12-15.
Running alongside the massive GITEX GLOBAL 2025, this edition is set to create more hype with promising new features, a stronger international presence, and landmark participation. For Indian startups, this expo is not just a tech expo but serves as a ramp to global connect, including further collaborations and funds in the Middle East and beyond.
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Dubai as a Gateway to Global Expansion
In recent years, Dubai has promptly gained recognition as a paramount connector between the East and the West, as it allows convenient entry into the MENA economies that exceed $4 trillion in size. With a mere few hours of flight time from India, Dubai has become the one-stop destination for Indian startups that are attempting to go international.
For example, Zaara Biotech founder Najeeb Bin Haneef arrived in Dubai in 2019 with merely an idea and secured $10 million in funding soon after. Presently, Zaara Biotech functions from the UAE. Such success stories are becoming more common- from FreshCraft Technologies to ShopDoc, Expand North Star is the common thread that many startups credit when it comes to their leap into the international markets.
What to Expect at Expand North Star 2025
This year is filled with opportunities and experiences curated for startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem-enablers.
Here is what you can expect from the event:
- 1,800+ Startups from over 100 countries
- 1,200+ Investors managing $1.1 trillion worth of assets
- About 70,000+ attendees are expected for four days
- 350+ Speakers, including tech leaders and investors from across the globe, are expected to arrive
It includes keynote speeches, fireside chats, panel discussions, and interactive sessions covering all the latest in AI, fintech, healthtech, robotics, Web3, green tech, and more. After hours of the event, however, it’s all about networking, yacht parties, AI DJ-powered sessions, and laidback meetups, all of which help startups to gain international recognition.
India’s Growing Footprint at ENS
India, over the years, has made a special mark as one of the biggest delegations at Expand North Star. 160 Indian Startups participated in 2023; in 2024, that number shot up to 225, and most probably will cross 300 big time in 2025. Startups like ShopDoc, Moglix, Urban Company, and Paytm have established their presence at the event. On the other hand, platforms like Startup India, NASSCOM, Kerala Startup Mission, IIT Madras, and Startup Tamil Nadu never seem to miss an opportunity to attend.
The attraction that Indian startups see in ENS is not just for visibility; Indian startups are really keen on meeting investors, connecting with corporates, and taking empowerment into the global market.
New Features to Watch in 2025
Expand North Star 2025 is adding new zones and programmes to help founders make meaningful progress:
- ScaleX: Spotlights 50 of the world’s fastest-growing scaleups, connecting them directly with investors and partners in the Middle East.
- Consumer Tech Zone: A space for startups innovating in AR/VR, wearables, smart health, and lifestyle tech.
- North Star Green Impact: Focuses on climate and sustainability solutions, including clean energy, circular economy, and green mobility.
- Deeptech MEA Summit: A curated space for discussions around AI, robotics, quantum computing, and future technologies.
- Digital Assets Forum: Explores the future of finance, from CBDCs to tokenisation and AI-driven risk management.
- Supernova Challenge 2.0: One of the world’s biggest startup pitch competitions with $250,000 in prizes up for grabs.
These additions illustrate the changing requirements of the emerging ecosystem, while simultaneously making ENS the most inclusive, useful, and forward-facing startup summit in the region.
Running Alongside: GITEX GLOBAL 2025
Simultaneously with ENS, GITEX GLOBAL 2025 will be the world’s largest technology and AI exposition, running from October 13 to 17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. GITEX will host over 6,800 tech companies and over 2,000 startups from more than 180 countries, including industry leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Oracle, AWS, IBM, Salesforce, and Huawei, as well as fast-growing upstarts such as Cerebras, Tenstorrent, and Qualcomm.
These two events together will provide marketers with an unparalleled opportunity to meet tech leaders and startups looking for partnerships, get funded, and learn about co-innovation opportunities regarding the investments and partnerships needed to keep up with the trends of digitization of businesses that will come to shape the industry in the coming years.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss Expand North Star 2025
Even if you are a founder looking to raise capital, an investor looking for your next unicorn, or a corporate leader looking for innovation, Expand North Star 2025 is the place for you. It is your once-a-year chance to access global markets, engage with forward-thinking individuals, and accelerate your growth from the roots of Dubai.
Also Read: Cryptocurrency Laws in UAE – Regulations You Must Know (2025)
