Expand North Star 2026 to bring global startup delegations to Dubai

Startup delegations 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 positioned as a major gateway for founders seeking investors, partners and international market access.

Why it matters: - Expand North Star 2026 is set to connect founders, investors and trade agencies from multiple continents in one Dubai venue. - The event aims to help startups secure capital, partnerships and new customers beyond their home markets. - Dubai is using the show to reinforce its role as a launchpad for international business and tech investment.

What happened: - Startup ecosystems from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East will converge in Dubai this December for Expand North Star 2026. - The event runs from 7 December at the Dubai World Trade Centre and from 8-10 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. - Expand North Star will reunite with GITEX GLOBAL, the world's largest tech, AI and startup show. - The combined event will bring together 6,000-plus 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 UAE attracted a record US$48.3 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025. - International companies accounted for 75% of the 1,690 digital startups supported by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy in 2025.

The details: - Canada, Italy and Thailand are among the countries showcasing innovation at the event. - Delegations are also coming from Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine and Serbia. - Additional participation includes Austria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Mauritania, Oman, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia and the United States. - The Canada Startup Association will appear for a third straight year and will debut its first national pavilion. - Canadian delegates will present AI-driven business tools, financial inclusion platforms, cardiovascular health applications and advanced photonics. - On 7 December, the Canada Startup Association will co-organise the first Canada Mobility Summit with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and the Canadian Business Council Dubai and the Northern Emirates. - The summit will examine what Dubai’s transport sector can offer Canadian tech firms. - Hammad Siddiqui, Executive Director of the Canada Startup Association, said Dubai puts investors and potential customers in multiple international markets within reach of Canadian founders. - Siddiqui said the pavilion is intended to strengthen Canada’s regional profile and help turn connections into pilot projects, distribution deals and investor relationships. - Thirty Italian startups and SMEs will attend under the Italian Trade Agency. - Italian companies will present technologies including an AI platform that can cut energy use and CO2 emissions in industrial pumping by as much as 60%, voice-cloning detection technology and sensors for autonomous robotics. - The Italian Pavilion is designed to create meetings between investors and companies targeting the GCC and other markets. - Valerio Soldani, ITA’s Trade Commissioner to the UAE and Oman, said the UAE is a strategic partner for Italy in industrial AI, healthcare and sustainability. - Thailand’s pavilion will host 12 companies. - The Thai MarTech Association will highlight Thai advances in AI, agri-tech, climate technology and marketing technology. - Thailand’s delegation is led by the Department of International Trade Promotion and is targeting the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. - Pitichai Ratananaka, Executive Director of the Thai Trade Center Dubai, said the UAE is an important gateway for Thai technology companies into the region. - The event will also feature ScaleX, which connects high-growth companies with investors and corporate buyers. - Supernova 0X will offer equity-free cash prizes. - New for 2026, ENS Founders Academy will give entrepreneurs access to investors, operators and unicorn builders. - Apollo100 will promote business opportunities across 100 global destinations.

Between the lines: - The breadth of delegations suggests Dubai is competing as a global matchmaking hub for startup capital and market access. - National pavilions point to a more organized push by countries to market their startup ecosystems internationally. - The mix of AI, health, climate, industrial tech and martech reflects where delegations see the strongest cross-border demand.

What's next: - The GITEX Summit opens on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre. - The startup exhibition follows at Dubai Exhibition Centre from 8-10 December. - GITEX GLOBAL continues until 11 December. - Organizers will use ScaleX, Supernova 0X, ENS Founders Academy and Apollo100 to drive investor meetings and business expansion opportunities.

The bottom line: - Expand North Star 2026 is shaping up as a large-scale global marketplace for startups seeking international growth, with Dubai positioning itself at the center of that flow.