Dubai – Shaikat Mubasher: Expand North Star 2025 brought together founders of 40 global unicorns with a combined valuation of US$900 billion, underscoring the event’s growing importance as a global hub for innovation, investment, and startup collaboration.

Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event aims to connect founders, investors, and venture capitalists from around the world to explore emerging tech trends, financing opportunities, and new market partnerships, as per an official press release.

Several participating unicorn founders praised the UAE’s supportive business ecosystem, citing it as a catalyst for growth and expansion. Andrew Feldman, CEO and Co-Founder of AI company Cerebras Systems (valued at $8.1 billion), said the UAE offers “an extraordinarily exciting place to be doing business,” highlighting the company’s plans to expand its local presence.

Pablo Zamora, Co-Founder of foodtech unicorn NotCo (valued at $1.7 billion), emphasized the region’s appeal for global startups, noting the government’s strong backing and investor-friendly environment. Meanwhile, Cresta Co-Founder Tim Shi described the event as “eye-opening,” offering access to new networks and opportunities beyond traditional markets.

Held at Dubai Harbour from 12 to 15 October, Expand North Star 2025 serves as the world’s largest gathering for startups and investors, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for digital entrepreneurship and technological advancement.