Expand North Star 2026: Exhibition Details, Custom Booth Builder & Trade Show in Dubai
Expand North Star 2026 takes place from 8–10 December 2026 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Organized by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) alongside GITEX Global, the event bills itself as the world's largest startup and investor connector event, bringing together founders, venture capital investors, corporate innovation teams and technology companies from around the globe.
Exhibiting at Expand North Star? Explore booth design and fabrication support.
Expand North Star 2026: Event Overview
Expand North Star is Dubai's annual startup and technology event, formerly known as GITEX Future Stars, and now part of the wider GITEX Global ecosystem. The 2026 edition will move to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai, bringing startups, founders, investors, and technology leaders together under one roof. In 2025, the event featured 2,050 startups from 96 countries, more than 1,300 investors, around 400 speakers, and thousands of founders and business meetings. For 2026, new features include the ENS Founders Academy, NS Play, DigiHealth–Biotech, and the revamped Supernova 0X pitch competition. Companies planning to exhibit can also work with an experienced exhibition stand builder in Dubai to create a strong presence around themes such as deep tech, funding, scaling, and global growth markets.
Who Can Benefit from Attending Expand North Star 2026
Based on the event's stated programme, the audience includes:
- Venture capital investors, angel investors and family offices
- Corporate innovation and venture teams scouting technology partnerships
- Founders and startup teams from pre-seed through Series A and beyond
- Accelerators, incubators and government innovation agencies
- Media, industry analysts and ecosystem partners
What Exhibitors Can Expect at Expand North Star
Startups exhibiting at Expand North Star typically operate from compact pods or stands rather than large custom booths, given the event's founder-and-investor "speed networking" format. Because the audience is investor-heavy, stands need to support quick, structured conversations rather than long product demos: think clear signage, a concise pitch visible at a glance, space for one-to-one meetings, and reliable power for laptops and live product demonstrations.
For technology exhibitors specifically, that generally means:
- Screens or monitors for live product demos
- Sufficient power outlets and cable management for connected hardware
- A small meeting or huddle area for investor conversations
- Durable, easy-to-read branding that reads well in a busy hall
The organizer has not published detailed technical exhibitor guidelines for the DEC venue at the time of writing, so exhibitors should confirm booth specifications directly with the event's exhibitor team once their space is booked.
Planning Your Visit to Expand North Star
Dubai Exhibition Centre sits within Expo City Dubai, in the Dubai South area near Al Maktoum International Airport, and is connected to the Dubai Metro. Visitor and exhibitor registration, along with speaker and media applications, are handled through the official Expand North Star website. Specific opening hours, ticket pricing and detailed transport guidance had not yet been published by the organizer as of this writing — check the official site closer to the event for confirmed details.
Exhibiting at Expand North Star 2026
Startups exhibiting at Expand North Star need more than a striking pod — the stand has to work hard in a short, investor-dense window. That means a design that communicates the pitch instantly, supports back-to-back one-to-one meetings, and meets the venue's build and safety requirements without last-minute surprises. For teams juggling fundraising, product prep and travel logistics ahead of the show, getting the physical stand right is often the part with the least internal bandwidth.
Exhibition Stand Support for Expand North Star
Booth Creators works with exhibitors on the practical side of showing up well: concept development, 3D stand design, custom fabrication, branding and graphics, lighting, electrical coordination, and on-site installation and dismantling. We handle DWTC venue approvals and coordinate around move-in and move-out windows as part of full project management, so exhibitors can focus on meetings rather than logistics.
For the broader service — including custom exhibition stand design, fabrication and on-site execution across UAE venues — see our Custom Exhibition Stand Services page.
Relevant Exhibition Experience
Booth Creators has been delivering exhibition stands since 2012, with turn-key coverage across Dubai and Abu Dhabi spanning venue coordination, authority approvals, transport and on-site build. Our portfolio includes work for clients such as Smartsoc Solution, Tandhan Denim, Valiant Communications and Scottish Chemical Industries, and we've built stands for major regional trade shows including Index Exhibition, SAUDIFOOD Manufacturing and PRS Middle East Africa — experience that includes navigating DWTC and DEC venue regulations.
What Exhibitors Should Finalize Before the Show
- Confirmed stand size, location and number of open sides
- Product display and demo-station requirements
- Meeting area needs for investor conversations
- AV, power and connectivity requirements
- Branding assets (logos, pitch decks, key messaging) ready for print and screens
- Storage needs for the duration of the show
- Organizer deadlines for stand design approval and venue compliance
- Installation and dismantling schedule once confirmed by DWTC
Our Experience With Exhibition Projects in Dubai and United Emirate Arab
With 14+ years of experience since 2012, Booth Creators has been delivering exhibition stand design and fabrication solutions for brands in Dubai, the UAE and international markets. Our team manages the complete process, including booth design, fabrication, graphics, logistics, installation and dismantling. We plan each project according to venue regulations, technical requirements and strict event timelines. Our experience also includes authority documentation, on-site coordination and installation planning for major UAE exhibitions. Each stand is developed around the exhibitor’s brand, audience and event objectives. From initial concept to final execution, we provide complete exhibition stand solutions under one team.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Expand North Star 2026?
Expand North Star 2026 runs from 8 to 10 December 2026.
Where is Expand North Star 2026 being held?
The event is held at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is the new venue for the 2026 edition.
Who organizes Expand North Star?
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) organizes Expand North Star in collaboration with GITEX Global.
Who should attend Expand North Star?
The event is aimed at startup founders, venture capital investors, corporate innovation teams, accelerators and technology industry professionals.
Who can help with exhibition stand fabrication for Expand North Star?
Booth Creators provides exhibition stand design, fabrication and on-site execution for exhibitors at Dubai trade shows, including experience with DWTC and DEC venue approvals.