STEP Dubai brings together prominent innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs, showcasing 5 key technology tracks in a move that solidifies Dubai’s position as a regional hub for innovation.
Her Excellency Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, inaugurated yesterday the 13th edition of STEP Dubai, the Middle East and North Africa’s premier technology festival. The two-day event is taking place at Dubai Internet City, part of TECOM Group, with the participation of numerous officials, tech industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the region and the world. STEP Dubai is considered one of the most prominent annual gatherings in technology and entrepreneurship, offering a comprehensive platform that combines innovation, funding, and networking, thereby reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global destination for major technology events.
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Her Excellency’s tour and the importance of the event
Her Excellency Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei conducted an inspection tour of the festival grounds, where she viewed the latest innovations and startups in the tech and entrepreneurship world. She was accompanied during her tour by an elite group of prominent participating figures, including Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group; Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of TECOM Group – Commercial District and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City; and Ray Dargham, Founder and CEO of STEP.
The organization of this event in Dubai Internet City points to the pivotal role played by the emirate in attracting the brightest minds from around the world and establishing a culture of innovation as one of the key economic pillars supporting Dubai’s future vision. It also reflects the UAE’s drive to advance development and digital transformation, supporting startups and investors through an incubator environment for creativity.
Leadership statements on entrepreneurship
Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of TECOM Group – Commercial District and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, spoke about the vital importance of entrepreneurship in driving technological innovation and achieving sustainable economic growth. He stated that the STEP Dubai festival provides valuable insights into the future of emerging entrepreneurs in the region, as technology has become the most prominent factor in building promising ventures. He added that Dubai Internet City, as a strategic partner of the event, continues its role in attracting elite talent and creative ideas in alignment with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
Launch of STEP Istanbul and global expansion
The first day of the festival witnessed a prominent announcement regarding the launch of STEP Istanbul as its first host partner event, scheduled to take place on May 12, as part of the global expansion path pursued by the STEP brand. This announcement serves as an extension of STEP’s strategy to reach new markets and diverse audiences around the world. It was also announced that STEP San Francisco will return on August 20, completing a series of global events that bring STEP’s expertise and unique experience to international horizons.
Ray Dargham, Founder and CEO of STEP, commented on this expansion by stating that STEP’s vision centers on empowering founders, investors, and innovators, and fostering communication between them to achieve mutual growth. Through the new hosting model adopted by the company last year, local partners are engaged in organizing STEP events around the world, receiving full support from the STEP team in Dubai in areas such as training, programming, and production expertise.
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Event details and the five tracks
STEP Dubai 2025 is witnessing the participation of over 8,000 visitors and 200 speakers, providing an opportunity to leverage a funding ecosystem reaching $9 billion. The event focuses on five main tracks highlighting the role of future technology across various sectors:
1. Founders & Funders: Provides insights into mechanisms for scaling startups and securing funding in the MENA region, including challenges and promising opportunities.
2. AdTech 2.0: Discusses the future of the advertising sector through AI campaigns and programmatic tools, and how companies can adopt these technologies to increase their impact.
3. AI Agents, LLMs & Cloud Systems: Focuses on the future of cloud infrastructure, AI agent development operations, and natural language models.
4. SME FinTech: Explores solutions that facilitate financial operations for these companies and enhance their efficiency, ranging from digital payment services to crowdfunding platforms.
5. PropTech: A new track for this year aimed at showcasing modern technologies transforming the real estate sector and promoting sustainable urban development in Dubai.
Participation of in5 business incubator
The festival featured prominent participation from startups within the in5 business incubator, affiliated with TECOM Group, such as the unified IT and device management platform “Zen Admin” and the PropTech-specialized company “Estaye”. These companies offer innovative solutions aimed at elevating the smart services sector and enhancing business efficiency across various fields. The STEP festival provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to interact with investors and experts from different countries around the world.
Dubai Internet City and TECOM
Dubai Internet City is one of the ten prominent specialized business parks belonging to TECOM Group, 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. These parks form an integrated ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship and innovation across various sectors, which positively reflects on Dubai’s aspirations to rank among the world’s smart cities.
The first day of the 13th edition of STEP Dubai concluded amidst enthusiastic and interactive atmospheres, bringing together ambitious entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators from across the region. With the announcement of STEP Istanbul and the return of STEP San Francisco, technology and entrepreneurship enthusiasts look ahead to these upcoming events, which will carry further opportunities and global expansion. Thanks to the support of Dubai Internet City and TECOM Group, STEP Dubai once again proves its prominent position on the regional tech conference map as a platform uniting experts, talent, and ideas under one roof to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
