Expand North Star – the world’s largest startup & investor connector event – returns alongside GITEX Global at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai. 

One week. One venue. One mega ecosystem of ideas, innovation and investment opportunities.

Starting with the Summit on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, North Star gathers the global startup ecosystem in one place. From 8-10 December at DEC, founders, investors, enterprises and policymakers come together to spark partnerships, investment and growth.

🔥WHAT’S NEW IN 2026:

📈 Scale-IT – Inspired by Dubai-It, Scale-It is a new flagship destination at Expand North Star connecting government, corporates, investors, ecosystem leaders and startups to showcase the programmes, opportunities and companies driving the UAE innovation economy.

🌍APOLLO100 – a new platform where we flip the order and give international hubs the opportunity to pitch their services to expansion-ready startups, creating a global network for market entry, and direct connections.

🎓ENS Founders Academy – A 3-day founder development experience connecting founders with investors, operators and unicorn builders through five specialized labs covering the complete startup journey, from idea to exit. 

⭐ENS26 Backers Pitch – Investors take center stage pitching startups they already back to other investors, creating new opportunities for collaboration and co-investment. 

🎟️The Founder’s Pass – A limited-edition opportunity designed for founders who want maximum visibility with a focused commitment — one dedicated pod, one high-impact day, and direct access to the global startup ecosystem.

🚀 Supernova 0X – Expand North Star flagship competition evolves to a stage-based competition format. Founders pitch in relevant competitive groups competing for a growth package prize.  

🧬GITEX Healthtech – This new feature brings together founders building, AR/VR hardware, smart health devices and lifestyle tech designed to scale.

🌐NS Play – A new platform spotlighting the future of human experience — featuring immersive AR/VR technologies, smart health innovations, and next-generation lifestyle solutions built for global impact.

The future of entrepreneurship is being built now. Secure your place at Expand North Star 2026 and join the founders, investors, and technology leaders shaping what comes next.

Expand North Star | 8-10 December 2026 | Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai

For more information, visit expandnorthstar.com.