By kind invitation of H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, and hosted by Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, I had the honor of visiting North Star as part of GITEX, where I witnessed promising projects presented by ambitious young innovators with a strong competitive spirit.
North Star was a highlight of an exceptional edition that concluded with unprecedented success. GITEX Global 2025 brought together more than 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups from 180 countries, and 1,200 investors, cementing its position as the world’s largest technology and AI event this year.
What especially caught my attention was the participation of female students from United Arab Emirates University, who showcased pioneering projects in various fields — particularly in healthcare — offering innovative solutions focused on women’s health. This kind of innovation proves that necessity is the mother of invention, and that a deep connection with real societal needs is often the spark that creates valuable products and scalable business models.
Here lies the true value of North Star as a global platform for entrepreneurs. This year, it attracted over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors managing assets worth more than USD 1.1 trillion, along with 40 unicorn companies — a reflection of the depth of both knowledge and capital available to those with serious ideas and capable teams.
What we need today is to export solutions, not just consume them. Consumption is the endless use of technology without understanding its philosophy or impact. Attraction, however, is about bringing in talent and expertise — something the UAE is already doing. The impact grows even greater when the nation’s youth turn this accumulated knowledge into globally competitive products and services.
To our young men and women: more than ever before — with the power of AI — launching a business has become faster, product development cycles shorter, and experimentation easier. This is a call to unleash your dreams and transform your talents into companies and solutions that tackle real-world challenges — from here, from our platforms, to the world.
