Dubai's startup year peaks in one December week: GITEX Global moves to 7–11 December 2026, and Expand North Star, its startup and investor show with the Supernova pitch competition, runs on 8–10 December at Expo City Dubai. Step Dubai in February is the most founder-friendly big event, and the WE Convention in November 2027 is the city's clearest event for women founders.
This guide lists startup, tech, investor and women-founder events in Dubai from November 2026 to the end of 2027. We checked every date on the organiser's own website. Where a date isn't published yet, we say so, and we mark each event as Confirmed (date on the official site), Announced (date from a reliable second source) or Expected (based on past editions only).
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
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Must Attend Startup Events in Dubai 2026–2027: Calendar from November 2026 to November 2027
Autumn 2026: November and December
Dubai FinTech Summit: 2–3 November 2026
The free Expo Pass is the cheapest way into DIFC's main fintech event of the year, so register before 24 October. The summit moved from its usual spring slot to November this year. Design and consumer-brand founders can also look at Dubai Design Week (3–8 November, Dubai Design District).
Dubai Future Week: 18–21 November 2026
Run by the Dubai Future Foundation, it now includes the Dubai Future Forum. The pitch track is the reason to go if you sell to government. The same week is Global Entrepreneurship Week (16–22 November), and listings give 24–26 November for the Doers Summit, a founder and investor matchmaking event backed by Dubai Silicon Oasis, though it has no official event page yet.
Blockchain Life: 1–2 December 2026
Only for Web3 founders, but it fills the city with crypto side events in the week before GITEX.
GITEX Global and Expand North Star: 7–11 December 2026
GITEX has moved from October to December and now spreads over two venues: the one-day summit at the World Trade Centre, then four days of expo at Expo City. Book your hotel early, because December is high season. Finance and digital-asset founders can add GITEX FDX (8–10 December).
The biggest startup-to-investor event in Dubai, now back at Expo City next to the GITEX expo. Apply to Supernova 0X if you want to pitch, or book a one-day startup pod on the show floor.
Winter and spring 2027: January to May
1 Billion Followers Summit: 8–10 January 2027
Useful if your growth depends on content and social media, or if you build tools for creators.
World Health Expo Dubai: 25–28 January 2027
WHX Tech is the main health tech startup floor in the region. The show used to be called Arab Health.
World Governments Summit and Step Dubai: 1–4 February 2027
The most founder-friendly big event in Dubai: verified early-stage founders get a lower rate, and the pitch competition puts you in front of investors. The World Governments Summit runs on 1–3 February 2027, according to the Dubai Media Office; it is mostly useful for govtech founders and for its side events.
AIM Congress: 12–14 April 2027
One of the region's largest investment events, now in Dubai rather than Abu Dhabi. Go if you look for investors or partners in emerging markets.
TOKEN2049 Dubai: 21–22 April 2027
The biggest crypto week in Dubai. Expect many side events across the city in the same days.
Arabian Travel Market and GISEC Global: 3–6 May 2027
GISEC calls its startup zone the largest gathering of cybersecurity startups in the region. Travel tech founders can go to Arabian Travel Market (3–6 May, Dubai World Trade Centre), which has a Travel Tech zone.
Summer and autumn 2027
Dubai goes quiet in the summer heat, and the event season starts again in the autumn. Look out for DevFest Dubai (the 2026 edition was on 27 September at in5 Tech), Seamless Middle East (22–24 September in 2026) and the 2027 GITEX dates, which are not out yet.
WE Convention: 6–7 November 2027
The clearest women-founder event on Dubai's calendar. Earlier editions had a Women Who Build track. A listing also mentions a 2026 edition on 28–29 November, but the official site shows only 2027.
Dubai Airshow: 15–19 November 2027
A big trade show rather than a startup event, but space and drone founders meet airlines, defence buyers and governments here.
Nearby: Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Doha
- Abu Dhabi Finance Week: 7–10 December 2026 at ADGM, the same week as GITEX.
- Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival: 30–31 January 2027 at SPARK, Sharjah, the 10th edition, run by the Sheraa startup centre.
- Web Summit Qatar: 31 January–3 February 2027 in Doha. Web Summit Qatar
Dates not announced yet
- Dubai AI Week 2027: the 2026 edition was on 6–9 April, run by the Dubai Future Foundation and the Dubai Centre for AI. Expected in April.
- GITEX Global 2027: no date yet; the 2026 edition moved to December.
- Dubai FinTech Summit 2027 and Dubai Future Week 2027: no dates yet.
- Seamless Middle East 2027: the 2026 edition was on 22–24 September; the site says "see you in 2027".
- Emirati Women's Forum 2027: the 2026 forum was on 27 August at Madinat Jumeirah; expected around Emirati Women's Day in late August.
- DIFC FinTech Hive and in5 demo days: no 2026 or 2027 dates published.
Recurring meetups and communities
- Startup Grind Dubai: active chapter; the next event is on 20 October 2026 at 9:30. Startup Grind
- GDG Dubai: Google Developer Group meetups, Build with AI workshops and the yearly DevFest. GDG Dubai
- ItsHerWay: a women's business community with a monthly morning meetup; the next one is on 27 October 2026, free for members. ItsHerWay
- Dubai Business Women Council: events for its members through the year. DBWC
- TiE Dubai and TiE Women: TiE Women ran a MENA open pitch night in June 2026. TiE Dubai
Some names have changed: Arab Health is now World Health Expo, the Dubai Future Forum is part of Dubai Future Week, and the Future Blockchain Summit's website now leads to GITEX FDX. We found no recent Dubai events for Techstars Startup Weekend, no Dubai cohort at Founder Institute, and no 2026 or 2027 edition of the Global Women's Forum Dubai.
Events for women founders in Dubai
- WE Convention (6–7 November 2027): a convention for women leaders, founders and investors.
- ItsHerWay: monthly morning meetups for women in business (next: 27 October 2026). ItsHerWay
- Dubai Business Women Council: the city's main business network for women. DBWC
- TiE Women: pitch nights and mentoring for women founders in the region. TiE Dubai
- CapitalHer: a DIFC Innovation Hub programme for women founders from the GCC, reported to end with a demo day at the Dubai FinTech Summit.
Women-founder events are thinner in Dubai than in most cities in this series. If you organise one, send it to us and we'll add it.
Funding and support to know before you go
- Golden Visa for entrepreneurs: a five-year residence visa; you need proof of an innovative or technical project and a letter from a business incubator or the relevant authority in the emirate. u.ae
- Green visa for the self-employed: a renewable five-year visa that needs a bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, a freelance or self-employment permit, and income of at least AED 360,000 over the two previous years. GDRFA Dubai
- Corporate tax: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. u.ae
- Small Business Relief: companies with revenue of AED 3 million or less can claim it only for tax periods that end on or before 31 December 2026, so 2026 is the last year. Federal Tax Authority
- Mainland or free zone: foreigners can own 100% of a mainland company in most activities; free zone companies also allow full ownership but need a distributor or branch to sell on the mainland. u.ae
- Dubai SME (for Emirati founders): interest-free seed loans from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund, and the Hamdan Innovation Incubator. Dubai Media Office
How to get the most out of Dubai startup events
- Plan around GITEX week. 1–11 December 2026 brings Blockchain Life, GITEX, Expand North Star and GITEX FDX, with Abu Dhabi Finance Week next door.
- Apply to pitch. Supernova 0X at Expand North Star and the Step pitch competition put early founders in front of investors. See more startup competitions.
- Use the free and founder passes. The Dubai FinTech Summit Expo Pass is free until 24 October, and Step has founder rates for verified early-stage founders.
- Book hotels early. December and February are high season, and prices rise sharply in GITEX week.
- Know the venues. Dubai World Trade Centre, Expo City Dubai and Madinat Jumeirah are far apart; check which venue each day is in before you book a hotel.
List your event in this guide
Do you run a startup, tech or investor event in Dubai? Send us the name, dates, venue and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this guide. We list events for founders, with a real date and an official page.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.
🔗 Add an awesome event
Startup events in other places
- Must Attend Startup Events in Singapore
- Must Attend Startup Events in London, UK
- Must Attend Startup Events in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Must Attend Startup Events in San Francisco, USA
- Must Attend Startup Events in New York, USA
- Must Attend Startup Events in Berlin, Germany
- Must Attend Startup Events in Paris, France
- Must Attend Startup Events in Stockholm, Sweden
- Must Attend Startup Events in Lisbon, Portugal
- Must Attend Startup Events in Barcelona, Spain
- Must Attend Startup Events in Munich, Germany
- Must Attend Startup Events in Toronto, Canada
- Best startup events in Europe (with country guides)
FAQ
What is the biggest startup event in Dubai?
GITEX Global, on 7–11 December 2026, together with its startup show Expand North Star (8–10 December, Expo City Dubai), which runs the Supernova 0X pitch competition.
When is GITEX Global 2026?
7–11 December 2026: the GITEX Summit on 7 December at Dubai World Trade Centre, then the expo on 8–11 December at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
Are there events for women founders in Dubai?
Yes: the WE Convention (6–7 November 2027), ItsHerWay monthly meetups, the Dubai Business Women Council and TiE Women.
Are there free startup events in Dubai?
Yes. The Dubai FinTech Summit has a free Expo Pass for those who register by 24 October 2026, and Startup Grind Dubai and GDG Dubai run free community events.
Which Dubai event is best for early-stage founders?
Step Dubai (3–4 February 2027, Dubai Internet City), with founder rates, a pitch competition and investor meetings.
How can a foreign founder move to Dubai?
Through the UAE Golden Visa for entrepreneurs (five years, with an incubator or authority letter) or the green visa for the self-employed.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
