His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited Expand North Star 2025, the world’s largest event for startups and investors. Hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy at Dubai Harbour, the event convenes over 2,000 startups and more than 1,200 investors, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a premier global hub for innovation and venture capital.
Dubai’s Vision as a Global Entrepreneurship Hub
During his tour, Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that Expand North Star embodies Dubai’s status as a global center for entrepreneurship and technology, reflecting its vision to build a diversified, knowledge-based digital economy. He stated that the event’s continuous growth is a testament to the increasing international confidence in Dubai as a destination that nurtures creators and innovators.
“Supporting talent and entrepreneurs in advanced technology is an investment in the future of our national economy and a driver for achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33),” said Sheikh Hamdan. He highlighted that Dubai’s integrated ecosystem, featuring advanced digital infrastructure, flexible legislation, and strategic partnerships, has established it as a key platform for empowering startups and advancing technological transformation regionally and globally.
A Global Confluence of Innovation and Capital
Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre, Expand North Star serves as a critical bridge connecting groundbreaking ideas with investment capital. The sheer scale of participation, with thousands of founders and VCs from across the world, underscores its role in shaping the future of the digital economy. The event, held in conjunction with GITEX GLOBAL, provides an unparalleled platform for networking, fundraising, and collaboration.
Spotlight on Global and Local Innovators
Sheikh Hamdan’s tour included visits to several key pavilions, showcasing the diversity of innovation at the event. He reviewed the services offered by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which facilitates matchmaking between investors and entrepreneurs. He also visited the pavilions of Serbia and Ecuador, which highlighted their respective nations’ growing tech ecosystems and investment opportunities.
The tour also spotlighted homegrown UAE innovation, with visits to Emirati startups Space Point, a company specializing in satellite launch technologies, as well as Secure Y71 and Nabibk. Sheikh Hamdan also explored the HealthTech pavilion, featuring cutting-edge solutions in digital healthcare, medical AI, and wearable devices. The tour concluded with a visit to the expansive India pavilion, which featured 211 startups in fields ranging from AI and data centers to cybersecurity and semiconductors.
About Expand North Star
Expand North Star is the world’s largest event dedicated to startups and investors. Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, it is the premier platform for connecting founders, venture capitalists, and tech leaders from around the globe. The event is a cornerstone of Dubai’s strategy to become a leading capital for the digital economy and a hub for technological innovation.
Source: Dubai Media Office
