Global startup delegations head to Dubai for Expand North Star 2026

Startup ecosystems from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East will gather in Dubai this December for Expand North Star 2026, alongside GITEX GLOBAL. The event is designed to connect founders with investors, partners and new markets as Dubai pushes its role as a global launchpad for tech and startup growth.

Why it matters: - Expand North Star 2026 is positioning Dubai as a cross-border hub where startups can meet investors, customers and partners from multiple regions in one place. - The event comes as the UAE continues to draw capital and startups, with the country attracting a record US$48.3 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025. - International companies made up 75% of the 1,690 digital startups supported by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy in 2025.

What happened: - Startup delegations from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East are set to participate in Dubai this December for Expand North Star 2026. - The event runs on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre and on 8-10 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. - Expand North Star will again run alongside GITEX GLOBAL, which continues through 11 December. - The combined showcase will bring together more than 6,000 enterprise and startup exhibitors from more than 80 countries. - The event is organised by inD with Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy as Digital Economy Partner.

The details: - National pavilions, trade agencies and AI startups from multiple countries will use the event to seek investment, partnerships and commercial deals. - Participating countries include Canada, Italy and Thailand, along with delegations from Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine and Serbia. - Additional participation comes from Austria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Mauritania, Oman, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia and the United States. - Canada will make its third consecutive appearance at Expand North Star with its first-ever national pavilion. - Canadian delegates will showcase AI-driven business tools, financial inclusion platforms, cardiovascular health applications and advanced photonics. - The Canada Startup Association is co-organising the first Canada Mobility Summit on 7 December with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and the Canadian Business Council Dubai and the Northern Emirates. - The summit will explore opportunities for Canadian tech firms in Dubai’s transport sector. - Thirty Italian startups and SMEs will attend under the Italian Trade Agency. - Italian exhibitors will present technologies including an AI platform that cuts energy use and CO2 emissions in industrial pumping by as much as 60%, voice-clone detection technology and sensors for autonomous robotics. - The Italian Pavilion is set up to help investors and companies do business in the GCC and beyond. - Thailand’s pavilion will host 12 companies. - The Thai MarTech Association will present work in AI, agri-tech, climate technology and marketing technology. - The Thai delegation is led by the Department of International Trade Promotion and is targeting opportunities in the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa. - The 2026 program opens with the GITEX Summit on 7 December, then moves into the startup exhibition at DEC from 8-10 December. - ScaleX will connect high-growth companies with investors and corporate buyers. - Supernova 0X will offer equity-free cash prizes. - New features for 2026 include ENS Founders Academy, which will let entrepreneurs learn from investors, operators and unicorn builders. - Apollo100 will promote business opportunities across 100 global destinations.

Between the lines: - The strong country mix shows how startup ecosystems are using Dubai as a neutral meeting point to reach customers and capital outside their home markets. - The emphasis on pavilions and trade agencies suggests the event is becoming as much about market access as product showcasing. - The addition of investor-focused and founder-training programs signals that Expand North Star is broadening beyond exhibition into dealmaking and scaling support.

What's next: - Delegations and exhibitors will use the December event to pursue pilots, partnerships and market-entry conversations. - The Canada Mobility Summit, ScaleX, Supernova 0X, ENS Founders Academy and Apollo100 are set to drive much of the business activity around the show. - Dubai will look to extend its role as a gateway for startups targeting the GCC, the Middle East and North Africa, and wider international markets. - GITEX GLOBAL will continue until 11 December, extending the weeklong technology and startup agenda in Dubai.