As Expand North Star 2025 concludes today at Dubai Harbour, Indian startups have emerged as one of the event’s most prominent participants, with approximately 300 companies showcasing their innovations at the four-day technology exhibition. The strong Indian presence underscores Dubai’s growing appeal as a strategic gateway for technology companies seeking international expansion.
Organized by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event has attracted Indian entrepreneurs across diverse sectors including artificial intelligence, climate tech, retail technology, cybersecurity, semiconductors, software-as-a-service, healthtech, and edtech. The participants are leveraging the platform to connect with global investors, forge strategic partnerships, and present their solutions to an international audience.
Manish Jaggi, representing DroneAir at the India Pavilion, highlighted the event’s significance for bootstrapped startups seeking investment and market expansion. “We have come here to get investments and expand our market reach in UAE and the Gulf,” said Jaggi, who noted that the Telecom Equipment Promotion Council supported their participation. “This gives a very good platform, and we plan to come here again.” The India Pavilion has become a hub of activity, hosting hundreds of startups that are attracting attention from investors and potential customers. Jaggi emphasized the dual opportunity presented by Expand North Star’s concurrent timing with Gitex, describing it as “a really good opportunity by Gitex and the Indian government to give startups a platform and gain investors.”
Indian companies exploring opportunities in Dubai’s digital sector can access support through the Dubai International Chamber representative office in Bangalore, India’s technology hub, which provides integrated services to Indian digital companies planning to establish operations in the emirate. The UAE’s supportive ecosystem of free zones and geographical proximity to India make Dubai an attractive destination for Indian innovators seeking to access Middle Eastern and European markets.
Expand North Star 2025, organized by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, took place from October 12-15 at Dubai Harbour. The 10th edition of the world’s premier startup and investor connector event drew over 2,000 disruptive startups, 1,200 international investors, and 40 global unicorns. The four-day exhibition served as a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs across sectors including artificial intelligence, climate tech, retail technology, cybersecurity, semiconductors, healthtech, and edtech to showcase innovations, secure funding, and forge strategic partnerships.
