Right now at Dubai Harbour, something significant is taking shape. Over 1,200 international investors are in one place, controlling a combined $1.1 trillion in assets. They have one goal: to find and fund the next big thing in technology.
This is all happening at Expand North Star 2025. Now in its 10th year, the event has become the world's biggest meeting point for startups and capital. From October 12th to the 15th, it's the centerpiece of the UAE’s strategy to lead the future of tech.
A Strategy Built on Scale and Ambition
The numbers alone tell a story. More than 2,000 of the world's most promising startups are here, all vying for the attention of investors ready to write game-changing checks.
This isn't just about networking. It's a core piece of the UAE's plan to create:
- 30,000 new jobs by 2030
- 10 "unicorn" companies by 2031
The focus is clear: to fuel massive digital growth across emerging AI economies, with Dubai positioned right at the center.
What Investors Are Actually Buying
So, where is that money going? Investors aren't just looking for flashy ideas; they are hunting for practical AI that solves real-world problems and shows a clear path to market leadership.
We're already seeing this in action. Presight, a major regional player, just unveiled the first groups from its AI-Startup Accelerator. It’s the UAE’s first-ever program dedicated to turning early AI ideas into successful businesses.
Adding to the momentum, the event features its largest unicorn showcase to date. With over 40 giants like quantum computing firm PsiQuantum and delivery service talabat on display, the message to investors is simple: this is where success is built.
The City-Wide Impact: Beyond the Conference Floor
This flood of capital and talent is changing Dubai's entire economic landscape. The city’s focused push to be a digital hub is creating a powerful gravitational pull for the world's top tech minds and investors.
As one senior investment analyst from Zenith Capital Partners noted from the event floor:
"The sheer concentration of capital and innovative ventures in one place, like Expand North Star, signals Dubai's unwavering commitment to becoming a primary hub for global investment, a factor increasingly influencing real estate and talent migration trends."
This high-stakes chase for innovation directly fuels demand for everything from premium office space to luxury villas. As top-tier tech talent relocates to the emirate, the need for a world-class lifestyle infrastructure grows with it. It creates a powerful feedback loop of growth and opportunity that is making Dubai one of the most dynamic cities on the planet. For investors paying attention, the signal is clear: the future is being built here, now.