Expand North Star 2026

About this event

Runs alongside GITEX at Expo City and describes itself as the world's largest startup and investor connector event — 2,050 exhibiting startups from 96 countries and more than 1,300 investors at the 2025 edition.

Built around matchmaking rather than stages: the organiser reported over 5,340 pre-arranged startup-investor meetings. Worth the trip for a company actively raising, and for anyone wanting an honest read on where Gulf and emerging-market capital is going.