At Dubai Harbour, beneath the skyline of one of the world’s most ambitious cities, the 10th anniversary edition of Expand North Star by GITEX GLOBAL opened this week.
With over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from more than 100 countries, the 2025 edition marks a milestone moment for the region’s digital economy. More than a conference, Expand North Star has become a catalyst for global collaboration, connecting founders, venture capitalists, and innovators within a rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven economies.
A Decade of Growth, A Global Stage
Since its debut in 2016, Expand North Star has grown from a regional startup event to a global platform shaping the future of entrepreneurship. Its 10th edition welcomes new participants from Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil, showcasing the world’s increasing recognition of Dubai as a launchpad for innovation and cross-border investment.
The numbers are staggering: the investors attending this year’s show represent over US$1.1 trillion in assets under management, reflecting the strength of Dubai’s investor ecosystem and its growing appeal as a base for scaling global ventures.
Brazil Takes Centre Stage
For the first time, Brazil joins as Country Partner, bringing over 50 startups spanning fintech, agri-tech, and green innovation.
Tatiana Riera, Chief Operating Officer at the Dubai Office of ApexBrasil, described the UAE as “one of our greatest partners,” highlighting the importance of co-creating innovation ecosystems between the two nations.
“Dubai is not just a showcase for startups,” Riera said. “It’s a platform to co-create the future — between Brazil, the UAE, and the world.”
New Entrants, New Opportunities
Ecuador and Chile made their debut at the 2025 edition, signaling a deepening South American presence in the region. Ecuador’s Ambassador to the UAE, Felipe Ribadeneira, unveiled plans to establish a “technology logistics corridor” between the two nations, following the momentum created at the World Government Summit earlier this year. Meanwhile, Chile introduced a delegation of 12 innovation-driven companies across mining, education, finance, and creative industries. The Chile-Dubai Innovation Summit, held during the event, further cemented ties and opened new opportunities for trade and tech collaboration across the Middle East.
Capital Flows and Collaboration
The event’s investor network continues to expand, attracting some of the world’s most influential venture capital and private equity firms. Speaking at a panel titled Driving Venture Capital Growth and Innovation with Sovereign Wealth Funds, Dr. Jorg Goschin, CEO of KFW Capital, emphasised the UAE’s appeal as a “bridge between European innovation and global markets.”
“When investors see transparency and clear exit pathways, they invest,” Goschin said. “Here in Dubai, with its appetite for technology and global capital, the potential for co-investment is extraordinary.”
Strategic Partnerships and Global Ambitions
The first day of Expand North Star 2025 also saw a series of strategic agreements signed between Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and global partners including Presight, 28 Digital, ApexBrasil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
These collaborations reflect DWTC’s role in enabling over 8,000 founders to scale their businesses over the past decade, reinforcing Dubai’s strategy to create 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and at least 10 unicorns (companies valued at over $1 billion) by 2031.
Beyond Borders
Expand North Star is more than a technology summit in Dubai, but it is also an extension of the city’s global narrative: inclusive, future-focused, and unafraid of scale. The event continues to embody the UAE’s vision of building a knowledge economy that thrives on collaboration rather than competition.
From São Paulo to Santiago, from Belgrade to Dubai Harbour, Expand North Star 2025 has become a living example of what happens when innovation is not confined by geography.
For more information:
Visit expandnorthstar.com
Image credit: GITEX GLOBAL Media Office
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