logo
Dubai Internet City added $27bln to emirate's economy, says report

Dubai Internet City added $27bln to emirate's economy, says report

Zawya21-02-2025
Dubai Internet City has added AED100 billion ($27.2 billion) to Dubai's GDP over the past 15 years, according to an impact study conducted in partnership with Accenture and incorporating perspectives from a wide array of prominent information and communications technology (ICT) industry figures.
The Dubai Internet City – Impact Assessment study quantifies the digital economy contributions of the region's leading tech hub, one of Tecom Group's 10 sector-specific business districts, since its establishment in 1999.
The study comes as Dubai continues its upward trajectory as a global tech hub, contributing towards strategic initiatives such as Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33'. The district today generates 65% of Dubai's technology sector GDP.
"In line with Dubai's visionary roadmap to nurture the technology sector and enhance its role as a key economic contributor, Dubai Internet City has enabled both the regional digital economy and disruptive innovation for more than 25 years," said Ammar Al Malik, the Executive Vice President of Commercial at Tecom Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City.
"This impact study reflects Dubai Internet City's unwavering commitment to nurturing tech innovation that accelerates sustainable prosperity – for our economy and our people – through our globally attuned ecosystem for technology and artificial intelligence (AI) companies as well as global talent," stated Al Malik.
"We will continue to nurture such collaborations to build a future powered by shared ingenuity, in line with the vision of Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33'," he added.
DIC's community has facilitated the creation of more than 125,000 direct and indirect jobs, with AED1.6 billion of investments to support training and talent development over the years, according to the study.
Home to 4,000 customers, including multinational giants, Fortune 500s, and start-ups, and more than 31,000 professionals, the district marked its 25th anniversary in 2024.
Dubai Internet City is part of Tecom Group's portfolio of 10 sector-specific business districts, which also includes Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Industrial City, and Dubai Design District (d3).
The impact study notes the power of DIC's pro-innovation infrastructure as a uniting platform for professionals, including AI pioneers, from more than 150 countries, leveraging Dubai's position as a global gateway to international expansion.
In addition, the district offers unparalleled operational support to customers, including seamless access to more than 200 corporate and government smart services through Tecom Group's axs portal to enhance the ease of doing business for its community.
The success of Dubai Internet City's diversified talent development and knowledge-sharing platforms is demonstrated by growth across its community.
Women comprise more than 25% of Dubai Internet City's workforce, and since 2021, the number of women-run start-ups has doubled at in5 Tech, the sector-dedicated vertical of Tecom Group's in5 incubator based at the district.
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy
Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy

Web Release

time11 hours ago

  • Web Release

Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy

Expand North Star, the world's largest event for startups and investors, will mark its 10th edition from 12 – 15 October 2025 at Dubai Harbour. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event celebrates a decade of advancing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy and a leading destination for innovators, investors, and pioneering tech enterprises, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). A Global Platform This year's edition of Expand North Star marks the culmination of a remarkable journey since the event's launch in 2016. What began as a local initiative has achieved continuous growth to evolve into a leading international platform. The number of countries represented by exhibiting companies and participating investors rose from 39 in 2016 to over 100 in the 2024 edition, underlining the event's status as a hub for global innovation. In line with Expand North Star's growing role as a gateway to promising investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors worldwide, the number of participating digital startups increased from 350 in 2016 to 1,800 in the 2024 edition, representing growth of 414%. Similarly, the number of investors rose from 150 to 1,200 during the same period, marking a 700% increase. Reflecting the expanding scale of its activities, the number of speakers participating in the event surged from 25 in 2016 to 650 in last year's edition. A Pivotal Role Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, stated: 'Since its inception in 2016, Expand North Star has played a pivotal role in supporting Dubai's vision of becoming a global centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in advanced technologies. Over the last years, this event has transformed into a strategic platform that empowers entrepreneurs and investors from around the world to explore growth opportunities in Dubai and contributes to shaping the global digital economy.' Al Gergawi added: 'Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to building on the success of Expand North Star as it enters its tenth edition. We remain focused on continuing to attract the global tech community and showcasing Dubai's competitive advantages as a leading destination for digital companies, as well as an ideal platform for connecting innovators, founders, startups, and global investors.' Unlocking Investment Opportunities Expand North Star plays a key role in shaping the future of investment and entrepreneurship across the digital industries. With startups operating in every area of technology alongside venture capitalists and fund managers seeking high-potential opportunities, the event serves as a platform for showcasing ideas and early-stage ventures and securing the funding required for success, from launch through to initial funding rounds. Expand North Star also creates an opportunity to discover Dubai's unique value proposition as a global hub for digital transformation. Participants gain in-depth exposure to the emirate's supportive ecosystem, advanced infrastructure, and forward-thinking policies, which position Dubai as an ideal environment to launch, scale, and invest in digital ventures. The event offers a rare chance to hear first-hand from the founders of companies that have grown from startups to become billion-dollar enterprises. Learning from these stories and experiences provides aspiring entrepreneurs with valuable insights to develop their own innovative businesses and elevate them to unicorn status (startups with valuations of over US$ 1 billion). Specialised Knowledge and Support For innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs, Expand North Star provides access to the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform ideas into successful digital ventures. It also offers a clear roadmap to help turn ambition into reality. During the event, entrepreneurs can connect with a wide range of accelerators and strategic partners ready to provide advice, resources, and mentorship to support their journey towards growth and success. The event equips entrepreneurs with specialised knowledge to scale their businesses internationally and unlock rapid expansion. It also offers insights into the strategies behind some of the world's most successful digital ventures, while providing an exceptional opportunity to network with top global minds in technology and innovation, as well as build connections with industry giants, trailblazing founders, and visionary leaders shaping the digital future. A Magnet for Global Talent The importance of Expand North Star is highlighted by the participation of 65 unicorn companies in last year's edition, with a combined market value exceeding US$ 400 billion. The event also hosted the 'YouthX Unipreneur' programme, the UAE's largest youth-focused initiative in the startup and innovation space. Several countries participated in the event for the first time in 2024, further reinforcing Dubai's position as a supportive hub for talent and a magnet for startups. These included Austria, Australia, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malaysia, and Singapore. New investor participation also came from countries such as Azerbaijan, Mauritius, Denmark, Peru, Malta, and Cyprus. In addition, the 2024 edition recorded the highest-ever level of participation from European startups, with more than 350 early-stage companies representing a diverse range of sectors. Brazil also featured prominently, with 50 Brazilian digital startups showcased in a dedicated pavilion, many of which have chosen Dubai as their base for global expansion. Driving Innovation Expand North Star's continued appeal is driven by the quality of its activations, which enrich the agenda year after year and offer participants insights into the technologies shaping tomorrow. Last year's edition featured several standout platforms, including the Corporate Arena, Technology Transfer 3.0, The Future of Media and Creativity, NS Scaleups: 2024 Cohort, Sonar+D, and the Startup Genome Ecosystem Leadership Forum. These new features provided invaluable insights into future tech trends, stimulating innovation and startup growth. The exhibition program also featured pioneering experiences across various tech sectors, enriching visitors' knowledge in areas such as blockchain, fintech, marketing, deep tech, climate tech, artificial intelligence, and Web 3 technologies. This year, entrepreneurs will once again have the opportunity to compete for funding of up to US$ 200,000 by participating in the Supernova Challenge, which provides the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform innovative business ideas into thriving digital ventures. For more information, please visit

Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai as a global capital of digital economy
Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai as a global capital of digital economy

Emirates 24/7

time15 hours ago

  • Emirates 24/7

Expand North Star celebrates a decade of cementing Dubai as a global capital of digital economy

Expand North Star, the world's largest event for startups and investors, will mark its 10th edition from 12 – 15 October 2025 at Dubai Harbour. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event celebrates a decade of advancing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy and a leading destination for innovators, investors, and pioneering tech enterprises, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). A Global Platform This year's edition of Expand North Star marks the culmination of a remarkable journey since the event's launch in 2016. What began as a local initiative has achieved continuous growth to evolve into a leading international platform. The number of countries represented by exhibiting companies and participating investors rose from 39 in 2016 to over 100 in the 2024 edition, underlining the event's status as a hub for global innovation. In line with Expand North Star's growing role as a gateway to promising investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors worldwide, the number of participating digital startups increased from 350 in 2016 to 1,800 in the 2024 edition, representing growth of 414%. Similarly, the number of investors rose from 150 to 1,200 during the same period, marking a 700% increase. Reflecting the expanding scale of its activities, the number of speakers participating in the event surged from 25 in 2016 to 650 in last year's edition. A Pivotal Role Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, stated: 'Since its inception in 2016, Expand North Star has played a pivotal role in supporting Dubai's vision of becoming a global centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in advanced technologies. Over the last years, this event has transformed into a strategic platform that empowers entrepreneurs and investors from around the world to explore growth opportunities in Dubai and contributes to shaping the global digital economy.' Al Gergawi added: 'Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to building on the success of Expand North Star as it enters its tenth edition. We remain focused on continuing to attract the global tech community and showcasing Dubai's competitive advantages as a leading destination for digital companies, as well as an ideal platform for connecting innovators, founders, startups, and global investors.' Unlocking Investment Opportunities Expand North Star plays a key role in shaping the future of investment and entrepreneurship across the digital industries. With startups operating in every area of technology alongside venture capitalists and fund managers seeking high-potential opportunities, the event serves as a platform for showcasing ideas and early-stage ventures and securing the funding required for success, from launch through to initial funding rounds. Expand North Star also creates an opportunity to discover Dubai's unique value proposition as a global hub for digital transformation. Participants gain in-depth exposure to the emirate's supportive ecosystem, advanced infrastructure, and forward-thinking policies, which position Dubai as an ideal environment to launch, scale, and invest in digital ventures. The event offers a rare chance to hear first-hand from the founders of companies that have grown from startups to become billion-dollar enterprises. Learning from these stories and experiences provides aspiring entrepreneurs with valuable insights to develop their own innovative businesses and elevate them to unicorn status (startups with valuations of over US$ 1 billion). Specialised Knowledge and Support For innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs, Expand North Star provides access to the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform ideas into successful digital ventures. It also offers a clear roadmap to help turn ambition into reality. During the event, entrepreneurs can connect with a wide range of accelerators and strategic partners ready to provide advice, resources, and mentorship to support their journey towards growth and success. The event equips entrepreneurs with specialised knowledge to scale their businesses internationally and unlock rapid expansion. It also offers insights into the strategies behind some of the world's most successful digital ventures, while providing an exceptional opportunity to network with top global minds in technology and innovation, as well as build connections with industry giants, trailblazing founders, and visionary leaders shaping the digital future. A Magnet for Global Talent The importance of Expand North Star is highlighted by the participation of 65 unicorn companies in last year's edition, with a combined market value exceeding US$ 400 billion. The event also hosted the 'YouthX Unipreneur' programme, the UAE's largest youth-focused initiative in the startup and innovation space. Several countries participated in the event for the first time in 2024, further reinforcing Dubai's position as a supportive hub for talent and a magnet for startups. These included Austria, Australia, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malaysia, and Singapore. New investor participation also came from countries such as Azerbaijan, Mauritius, Denmark, Peru, Malta, and Cyprus. In addition, the 2024 edition recorded the highest-ever level of participation from European startups, with more than 350 early-stage companies representing a diverse range of sectors. Brazil also featured prominently, with 50 Brazilian digital startups showcased in a dedicated pavilion, many of which have chosen Dubai as their base for global expansion. Driving Innovation Expand North Star's continued appeal is driven by the quality of its activations, which enrich the agenda year after year and offer participants insights into the technologies shaping tomorrow. Last year's edition featured several standout platforms, including the Corporate Arena, Technology Transfer 3.0, The Future of Media and Creativity, NS Scaleups: 2024 Cohort, Sonar+D, and the Startup Genome Ecosystem Leadership Forum. These new features provided invaluable insights into future tech trends, stimulating innovation and startup growth. The exhibition program also featured pioneering experiences across various tech sectors, enriching visitors' knowledge in areas such as blockchain, fintech, marketing, deep tech, climate tech, artificial intelligence, and Web 3 technologies. This year, entrepreneurs will once again have the opportunity to compete for funding of up to US$ 200,000 by participating in the Supernova Challenge, which provides the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform innovative business ideas into thriving digital ventures.

Expand North Star advances Dubai's position as global capital of digital economy
Expand North Star advances Dubai's position as global capital of digital economy

Zawya

time16 hours ago

  • Zawya

Expand North Star advances Dubai's position as global capital of digital economy

DUBAI - Expand North Star, the world's largest event for startups and investors, will mark its 10th edition from 12-15 October at Dubai Harbour. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the event celebrates a decade of advancing Dubai's position as a global capital of the digital economy and a leading destination for innovators, investors, and pioneering tech enterprises, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). This year's edition of Expand North Star marks the culmination of a remarkable journey since the event's launch in 2016. The number of countries represented by exhibiting companies and participating investors rose from 39 in 2016 to over 100 in the 2024 edition. In line with Expand North Star's growing role as a gateway to promising investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors worldwide, the number of participating digital startups increased from 350 in 2016 to 1,800 in the 2024 edition, representing growth of 414 percent. Similarly, the number of investors rose from 150 to 1,200 during the same period, marking a 700 percent increase. Reflecting the expanding scale of its activities, the number of speakers participating in the event surged from 25 in 2016 to 650 in last year's edition. Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, stated, 'Since its inception in 2016, Expand North Star has played a pivotal role in supporting Dubai's vision of becoming a global centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in advanced technologies. Over the last years, this event has transformed into a strategic platform that empowers entrepreneurs and investors from around the world to explore growth opportunities in Dubai and contributes to shaping the global digital economy.' Al Gergawi added, 'Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to building on the success of Expand North Star as it enters its tenth edition. We remain focused on continuing to attract the global tech community and showcasing Dubai's competitive advantages as a leading destination for digital companies, as well as an ideal platform for connecting innovators, founders, startups, and global investors.' Expand North Star plays a key role in shaping the future of investment and entrepreneurship across the digital industries. With startups operating in every area of technology alongside venture capitalists and fund managers seeking high-potential opportunities, the event serves as a platform for showcasing ideas and early-stage ventures and securing the funding required for success, from launch through to initial funding rounds. Expand North Star provides access to the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform ideas into successful digital ventures. It also offers a clear roadmap to help turn ambition into reality. The event equips entrepreneurs with specialised knowledge to scale their businesses internationally and unlock rapid expansion. It also offers insights into the strategies behind some of the world's most successful digital ventures, while providing an exceptional opportunity to network with top global minds in technology and innovation. The importance of Expand North Star is highlighted by the participation of 65 unicorn companies in last year's edition, with a combined market value exceeding US$400 billion. The event also hosted the 'YouthX Unipreneur' programme, the UAE's largest youth-focused initiative in the startup and innovation space. The exhibition programme also featured pioneering experiences across various tech sectors, enriching visitors' knowledge in areas such as blockchain, fintech, marketing, deep tech, climate tech, artificial intelligence, and Web 3 technologies. This year, entrepreneurs will once again have the opportunity to compete for funding of up to US$200,000 by participating in the Supernova Challenge, which provides the tools, guidance, and networks needed to transform innovative business ideas into thriving digital ventures.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store