Dubai SME is putting real weight behind young founders this week. As Main Partner of GITEX YouthX and Emaratipreneur at Expand North Star 2025, the organisation is supporting 50 Emirati startups with dedicated exhibition pods to show off work in AI, fintech, sustainability, health tech and e-commerce. The push ties directly to Dubai’s D33 agenda to scale the economy by 2033.
Tip: For the bigger picture on the show, see our quick brief on Expand North Star 2025 and more GITEX 2025 coverage. (tbreak.com links: Expand North Star 2025 opens, Microsoft at GITEX 2025, HP at GITEX 2025
What Dubai SME is doing at the show
Funding space and visibility.
- Main Partner for GITEX YouthX and Emaratipreneur.
- 50 startups get exhibition pods.
- Focus areas: AI, fintech, sustainability, health tech, e-commerce.
- Goal: empower young Emirati founders and support D33.
Exhibition pods give early-stage teams a low-friction way to meet investors and partners without burning cash on big stands. Tying the programme to YouthX and Emaratipreneur also keeps the spotlight on first-time and student founders. The sector mix matches where UAE investors are spending time right now.
How this supports Dubai’s D33 plan
More startups, more jobs, bigger GDP.
- D33 aims to double Dubai’s economy by 2033.
- DET is tasked with boosting global competitiveness across business and tourism.
- Dubai SME is a DET subsidiary focused on Emirati entrepreneurship and SMEs.
DET’s job is to improve the city’s business climate and talent pipeline while promoting Dubai globally. Dubai SME is the execution arm for home-grown businesses—helping with finance, licensing and growth so more local companies scale, export and hire. That flywheel feeds straight into D33’s targets.
Who’s behind Dubai SME
It sits under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
- DET plans, supervises and markets Dubai’s business and tourism sectors.
- It licenses and classifies businesses and runs entities like Dubai SME, DFRE and DCT.
- Mission: make Dubai a leading global hub for commerce and tourism.
DET is building a diversified, innovation-led, service economy—pulling in top talent and improving productivity. Alongside tourism work, it handles day-to-day essentials such as business registration and consumer protection, which matter when a startup goes from prototype to paid.
What founders get from this programme
A platform to show, meet, and learn.
- Physical pods to demo products and collect feedback.
- Exposure to investors and corporates attending the show.
- Community via GITEX YouthX and Emaratipreneur tracks.
- Mentorship and policy support through Dubai SME.
For a bootstrapped team, a pod at a major event can be the difference between cold emails and warm intros. Pair that with Dubai SME’s support—from business set-up to finance planning—and you get a cleaner path from idea to invoice.
Sectors you’ll see on the floor
The playbook mirrors UAE priority areas.
- AI: from copilots to edge models.
- Fintech: payments, compliance, embedded finance.
- Sustainability: energy, circular systems, green software.
- Health tech: telehealth, diagnostics, devices.
- E-commerce: retail tech, logistics, market tools.
These are practical categories with clear buyers in the UAE. If you’re visiting the show, use them as a filter: line up investor meetings around AI and fintech, then look at sustainability and health tech startups for strategic pilots with local partners.
What is Expand North Star?
A major startup event aligned with GITEX that brings together founders, investors and ecosystem players. In 2025, Dubai SME is supporting 50 Emirati startups there.
What is Dubai SME?
A DET subsidiary that supports Emirati entrepreneurs with resources, information and outreach across the SME lifecycle—from planning finances to simplifying procedures and registration.
How is Dubai SME involved at the event?
It’s the Main Partner of GITEX YouthX and Emaratipreneur and is providing exhibition pods for 50 startups.
