Gitex Global: ‘Expand North Star’ to boost startup ecosystem for tech entrepreneurs

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy announced extension of the startup brand, NorthStar into ‘Expand North Star’ during this year’s Gitex. Dubai will host the ‘Expand North Star’ event next year from May 10 -12 to exhibit the country’s competitive advantages and growth opportunities.

Expand North Star was jointly announced by Omar Sultan Al Olama and Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, alongside its current strategic partner Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. It will be a key platform to attract companies, while showcasing Dubai and the UAE’s competitive advantages and growth opportunities in a thriving digital economy. 

Al Olama stated that the UAE and Dubai have long consolidated its status as the international hub to set-up and attract unicorn and leading digital companies from across the globe, creating the best ecosystem for entrepreneurs to flourish and expand their impact on the world of AI and digital economy. He said, “the event will offer an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs, innovators, and digital business leaders to connect with potential venture capital investors from around the world, while international unicorn founders can share their inspiring success stories.”

He added that “Expand North Star will act as a strategic catalyst to expand the future of digital economy, reflecting what Gitex is to the global technology industry. This is the leading event of its kind, bringing together the region’s leading digital business and entrepreneurial ecosystems to connect, collaborate and foster business partnerships that drive international growth.”

Helal Saeed Al Marri said, “As the new name implies, Expand North Star will ramp up the startup entrepreneurship momentum, transcending geographic industries and intellectual boundaries as it looks to connect government partners, investors, and corporate accelerators with innovators and tech stars from every continent. It shall present a new creative format to extend its engagements with venture capitalists, unicorns, scale-ups, startups, and key stakeholders in the tech ecosystem.”

The new concept arrives as the UAE enters a new phase of economic development catalysed by new digital generational technologies and innovation. The digital economy is expected to be a major driver of the UAE’s sustainable economic growth, contributing nearly 20 per cent to the country’s GDP over the next ten years. New policies and initiatives are being put in place, promoting IoT, AI, blockchain, metaverse, or Web 3.0.

Expand North Star will present more space and flexibility to engage and develop the international community with an even more creative and impactful programme.  The event will be co-located with the inaugural Gitex Impact and Future Urbanism Summit & Expo.