The 14th edition of Step Dubai 2026 commenced its first day at Dubai Internet City, drawing together over 8,000 founders, investors, and tech leaders. The event, held under the theme “Intelligence Everywhere: The AI Economy,” immediately established its deep commitment to exploring artificial intelligence and its impact on the global economic landscape from a regional hub.
Step’s Own AI Transformation
A pivotal moment of the day was Step’s own announcement of its evolution into an AI-first organization. Demonstrating a commitment to the very transformation it champions, the platform showcased how it is embedding AI into its core operations. New tools were introduced, including the Step Event App for schedules and updates, and a WhatsApp AI Event Assistant for real-time guidance.
Step also unveiled Buzz, a community marketing platform, and Uniqorn, a matchmaking solution designed to facilitate curated meetings between startups and investors.
Dubai as a Global AI Epicenter
The event underscored Dubai’s growing reputation as a central player in AI development. Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, highlighted the ecosystem’s role, stating, “Artificial intelligence is reshaping how companies are built, scaled and sustained. Dubai Internet City will continue to provide a robust ecosystem, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a dynamic community.”
Ray Dargham, co-founder and CEO of Step, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Dubai is a global epicentre of AI evolution, backed by leadership and institutions that recognised the power of artificial intelligence long before it became mainstream. What we’ve seen on day one… is not just conversation about AI, but real alignment between founders, investors, corporates, and governments on how the AI economy will be built over the next decade from Dubai.”
Global and Regional Voices Converge
The agenda featured a blend of global tech heavyweights and regional policy shapers. A key conversation took place between Ray Dargham and Adeo Ressi, founder of the Founder Institute, covering AI, venture capital, and the future of company-building.
Representatives from multibillion-dollar technology companies like GenSpark and Atlassian shared insights on deploying AI at scale. A high-level session on regional development, moderated by Fadi Ghandour, brought together former government ministers to discuss how AI and innovation policy will continue to drive economic growth across the Levant and North Africa.
A Focused Agenda on AI Applications
Discussions were structured across four dedicated tracks: Founders & Funders, AI in Finance, The AI Stack, and Human First. These sessions explored the real-world applications of AI, from foundational infrastructure and investment strategies to ethical considerations and the future of work.
The event also featured showcases from in5, Dubai’s leading startup incubator, and D/Quarters, a new Ecosystem Partner providing flexible co-working spaces. Step Dubai 2026 provides attendees access to an investor community representing a reported USD 12.6 billion in deployable capital.
About Step
Step is a global tech and startup platform bringing founders, investors, and operators together through high-impact live events. Best known for Step Dubai and Step San Francisco, Step creates environments where early-stage and scaling companies engage with capital, talent, and market opportunities. With a founder-first approach, Step’s events combine practical programming, curated networking, and immersive experiences in an open, collaborative setting. Operating across the Middle East and the United States, Step supports the development of startup ecosystems by bringing communities together around innovation and entrepreneurship.
Source: Zawya
