Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Dubai World Trade Centre launch global promotional campaign for Expand North Star 2025 in United States
Business and Economics News By Editor_wr On Mar 10, 2025
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has launched the global promotional campaign for Expand North Star 2025 in collaboration with Dubai World Trade Centre.
Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the upcoming edition of the world's largest event for startups and investors will take place at Dubai Harbour from 12-15 October.
The first leg of the 2025 promotional campaign kicked off in the United States and covered Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The campaign brought together more than 200 representatives from a diverse range of startups, investors, and technology companies, providing a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and exploring opportunities within Dubai's thriving digital economy.
As part of the campaign, a startup pitch competition was held with the participation of 20 innovative companies. DataBiologics and Nanowear emerged as the winners, with each securing a fully funded opportunity to participate in Expand North Star 2025, helping them access new markets through the event.
The campaign also included 13 high-level meetings with key business ecosystem partners, venture capital firms, and unicorn companies that focused on strengthening ties between Dubai and the United States in the digital economy field.
The United States is the first stop in the broader global campaign to highlight the significance and influence of Expand North Star 2025. The event serves as a key global gathering for startups, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders seeking to capitalise on unique growth opportunities in Dubai and shape the future of the digital economy.
The 2024 edition of Expand North Star achieved record-breaking participation and strong visitor and exhibitor engagement, together with an exceptional level of innovation on display and wide international presence. The event attracted over 1,800 startups and more than 1,200 investors from 100 countries managing assets exceeding US$ 1 trillion. In addition, 65 unicorn companies with a combined market value of more than US$ 400 billion took part in the exhibition.
Expand North Star plays a critical role in attracting the global tech community to Dubai, serving as a powerful platform for innovation, collaboration, and fostering connections with some of the world's most promising startups, investors, and tech pioneers.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy remains committed to advancing Dubai's digital ecosystem and positioning the emirate among the world's leading digital economies, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). Expand North Star has emerged as a key pillar in the chamber's strategy to cement Dubai's position as a global hub for innovation and technology, contributing to accelerating economic growth and development both locally and globally.
To find out more about Expand North Star 2025, please visit expandnorthstar.com
Comments are closed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
2 hours ago
- Web Release
NextGen Career Fest 2025: Pupilar Unites UAE's Youth Ecosystem for a Future-Ready Workforce
Pupilar , the unifying platform for youth employment in the UAE has hosted its first NextGen Career Fest 2025, a flagship event organized by Pupilar with in5 as their Talent Accelerator Sponsor, brought together over 500+ Attendees, 1000+ registered youth representing more than 50+ nationalities and 100+ universities, alongside employers, policymakers, and education leaders for a full-day event at in5 Tech, Dubai Internet City. The event also witnessed/welcomed the gathering of about 60+ high profile VIPs, including: Saeed Al Nofeli, Vice President, in5 Innovation Centers | Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President – Venue Services Management, Dubai World Trade Centre | Meshael Al Blooshi, Seasoned HR Leader and Active Board Advisor (ex. HR of Nakheel) | Sarah Shaw, CEO of Majra UAE | National CSR Fund | Claudia Pinto, Head of Philanthropy & Sustainability Advisor to HH Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum | Ayman Al Awadhi, Managing Director, The Corporate Group | David Van Lochem, CEO and Co-Founder, Augmented Workforce In addition to the VIP presence, the event brought together a strong HR and employer ecosystem, featuring over 70 companies in total — including: 18 hiring exhibitors 19 partners 16+ industry mentors 14 youth-led start-ups, including Iza's Soap House, founded in Dubai in 2022; the venture of an 11-year-old entrepreneur. NextGen Career Fest stands as a testament to how purpose-driven initiatives can actively shape the future of youth employment. Far from being a one-off event, it forms a core pillar of Pupilar's long-term mission to achieve Zero Youth Unemployment that fosters an ecosystem where collaboration between government, academia, and industry is not just encouraged, but sustained year after year. Beyond the shortage of available jobs, the core challenge lies in the widening gap between traditional education systems and the skills demanded by today's rapidly evolving job market. Recognizing this gap, and as part of the UAE's broader drive through initiatives like the ambitious D33 agenda to foster innovation and position youth employment as a core economic priority, platforms like NextGen Career Fest play a vital role in translating vision into action. Driven by Pupilar in partnership with in5 as Talent Empowerment Sponsor, NextGen serves as the foundation of a larger movement to build a Global Talent Hub, unifying the UAE's youth talent ecosystem and bridging students, jobseekers, and industries across all sectors under one future-forward platform. A Persistent Disconnect While events like NextGen Career Fest provide an important platform to bridge the gap between talent and industry, addressing youth employment challenges requires sustained, structural shifts. Employers continue to report mismatches between applicant skills and job requirements, and many graduates still lack practical experience to compete in a market increasingly shaped by digital transformation and AI-related skills. NextGen is helping spark this change by driving stronger connections and preparing youth to meet evolving industry expectations. According to Pupilar's co-founders, 'when youth are given the platform to rise, the future changes for all of us. NextGen is where dreams start but more importantly, it?s where they get built. We began this journey from our own struggle, two young women trying to be seen, trying to matter. Today, with the UAE?s largest youth career community, we're here to bridge the gap. Because the future doesn?t belong to one generation it lies in the space between the young and the experienced. And it 's time we stop treating youth employment as charity. It 's not a CSR move. It's a business strategy. To stay relevant, to innovate, to grow — we must invest in youth not just emotionally, but strategically,' said Aqsa Khalifa and Maimuna Rashid in a joint statement. A Glimpse Into the Future Over the past 2–3 years, many Pupilar community members have experienced transformative growth from uncertain students to confident professionals shaping their industries. Some have gained the voice to lead teams and speak on stages. The most fulfilling milestone: several early members, once jobseekers, now return as employers — hiring the next generation at NextGen Career Fest. NextGen isn't a one-off, it's a growing blueprint to tackle youth career challenges across the region. Each edition builds on the last, driving real-world impact in hiring, upskilling, and access. As we look to 2026, Pupilar invites; sponsors, partners, educators, and employers to co-build the next edition with us and help propel the future of youth leadership.
Arabian Post
3 hours ago
- Arabian Post
GCC Banks Accelerate Toward USD‑Denominated AT1 Sukuk Surge
Sharjah Islamic Bank and Warba Bank have spearheaded a flurry of USD‑denominated Additional Tier 1 sukuk issuances across the Gulf Cooperation Council, as institutions capitalise on narrower spreads, robust investor demand and abundant liquidity to bolster capital under Basel III norms. Sharjah Islamic priced a US$500 million perpetual issuance with a six‑year non‑call period at 6.125%, tightening from initial guidance of 6.5%, after books exceeded US$1 billion. Simultaneously, Kuwait's Warba Bank concluded a US$250 million AT1 sukuk issuance, re‑offering at a 6.25% yield—also tightened from initial guidance of 6.5%. The instrument, based on a perpetual structure with a 5.5‑year non‑call window, follows Warba's major equity move: the acquisition of a 32.75% stake in Gulf Bank from Alghanim Trading and a KWD 436.7 million rights issuance completed in April. Sharjah Islamic Bank's listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks its fifth sukuk issuance, raising its total sukuk portfolio on the exchange to US$2.5 billion. The deal attracted strong interest from regional and international investors, reinforcing Dubai's growing role as a nexus for Islamic capital. The transaction's pricing depth, with a reset spread of 195.6 basis points—125.7 bps tighter than its 2019 equivalent—highlights an improved cost of capital. ADVERTISEMENT Analysts attribute this wave of AT1 issuances to an increasingly mature Islamic fixed‑income market. GCC banks are under pressure to meet Basel III capital thresholds while tapping investor appetite for Sharia‑compliant instruments amid a global shift towards ethical finance. The depth and oversubscription observed signal confidence in GCC financial stability and growth trajectories. Banking insiders view Sharjah Islamic's move as emblematic of a broader trend. Its programme is now a benchmark in AT1 pricing within the Islamic sukuk arena, and the issuance is being seen as a signpost to other regional banks eyeing capital diversification. Global Capital, a financial news provider, has reported that Warba's issuance helped catalyse the broader GCC AT1 market, with Saudi banks preparing similar deals. Warba Bank's issuance was structured via Warba Tier 1 Sukuk Limited, and it is dual‑listed on the London Stock Exchange's International Securities Market and Nasdaq Dubai. The sukuk follows a Mudaraba structure and was syndicated by joint global coordinators and bookrunners including Emirates NBD Capital, Standard Chartered, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and HSBC. The financial backdrop has been supportive: increasing liquidity in global markets, stable benchmark yields in the US, and sustained inflows into Islamic finance vehicles. Sharjah Islamic underscores its confidence in long‑term strategy, stating the issuance supports its capital base aligned with Basel III standards . Meanwhile, Warba's move is synchronised with its stake acquisition in Gulf Bank, reflecting a broader expansion and capital optimisation strategy. Investor sentiment continues to favour GCC issuers. Demand for Sharia‑compliant fixed‑income paper is rising, particularly from European institutional investors and Islamic funds, seeking diversification. Sharjah's issuance was oversubscribed by over two‑times its size, with participation spanning the GCC, Europe and Asia. Gulf markets are responding in kind: Saudi banks are preparing their own AT1 sukuk to finalise in the coming months, encouraged by the positive reception to these pricings.
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Oman to hold next round of US-Iran nuclear talks on June 15 amid regional tensions
The sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks will be held on Sunday in Muscat, the Omani foreign minister said on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump reiterated that Tehran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Trump said on Wednesday US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place". Reuters reported earlier that the US was preparing an evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and would allow military dependents to leave locations around the Middle East due to heightened security risks in the region, according to US and Iraqi sources. The four US and two Iraqi sources did not say what security risks had prompted the decision. Reports of the potential evacuation pushed up oil prices by more than 4 per cent before prices eased on Thursday. Foreign energy companies were continuing their operations as usual, a senior Iraqi official overseeing operations in southern oilfields told Reuters on Thursday. A US official said the State Department had authorised voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait. The State Department updated its worldwide travel advisory on Wednesday evening to reflect the latest US posture. "On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel due to heightened regional tensions," the advisory said. The decision by the US to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and US intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. "They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out." Asked whether anything could be done to lower the temperature in the region, Trump said: "They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon." Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if stuttering talks over its nuclear programme fail and in an interview released earlier on Wednesday said he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand. While the evacuation of non-essential personnel raised concerns about a possible regional escalation, a senior Iranian security official told Iran's Press TV on Thursday that US military dependents leaving did not constitute a threat. Shipping warning On Wednesday, Iran's defence minister warned Washington that Tehran would hit US regional bases if drawn into a war in the case of nuclear talks failing. The United States has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a US official said. Another US official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain — where the bulk of them are based. On Wednesday Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East might lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking US troops, though attacks have subsided since last year.
