Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE inaugurated Expand North Star 2023, the world’s largest startup exhibition and conference, on Sunday. The event, hosted at Dubai Harbour, features over 1,800 startups from 100+ countries and is attended by more than 1,000 investors with assets exceeding $1 trillion.
Additionally, Gitex Global, the world’s largest technology gathering, commences at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with participation from over 6,000 companies. Sheikh Maktoum emphasized the importance of nurturing national talent to drive digital innovation and boost Dubai’s status as a global hub for digital technology and AI-based solutions. The event aligns with Dubai’s digital economy objectives, aiming for an annual value of Dh100 billion.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, highlighted that this year’s exhibition builds on the previous year’s success, which led to the launch of approximately 150 startups in the UAE through deals made during the exhibition.
The event introduces various initiatives, including India Central, showcasing the Indian tech startup ecosystem with around 300 companies. Emaratipreneur Inc. provides a platform for Emirati entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors, featuring an exhibition area for young innovators and startups. The Emaratipreneur Majlis hosts discussions on creating the next generation of startup stars from the UAE’s youth ecosystem.
The exhibition includes the Supernova Challenge, a prestigious pitch competition with a $200,000 prize fund, Fintech Surge, connecting fintech companies with stakeholders across the MENA region, the Future Blockchain Summit, a large-scale blockchain event, and Marketing Mania, the MENA region’s largest marketing and creative technology trade show.