February 11 - 12, 2020Dubai Internet City
DUBAI 2026
DUBAI
2026
Keep an eye out for updates and final agenda
"We live in amazing times," says Adeo Ressi — and he's in a unique position to know. From running an…
"We live in amazing times," says Adeo Ressi — and he's in a unique position to know. From running an illegal nightclub with college roommate Elon Musk to building companies that exited for nearly $2 billion, from inventing the SAFE note that democratized startup funding to launching nearly 1,000 venture capital firms across 100+ countries, Ressi has spent three decades at the intersection of entrepreneurship, capital, and transformation.Now, as CEO of Decile Group and Chairman of Founder Institute, Ressi is focused on two converging forces reshaping the global startup landscape: (1) the impact of venture capital on global startup ecosystems and (2) the transformational change of AI on starting and building a business.In this fireside chat, Ressi shares cutting-edge insights from Silicon Valley and beyond — from how AI is fundamentally changing what it takes to build a company, to why 2026 will determine which cities join the elite group of global venture ecosystems. He's in Dubai this week on a mission to launch 100 new VC firms across the Middle East, betting that the region's distinct advantages — sovereign wealth, government backing, global connectivity, and ambitious young populations — position it to become a major force in the AI economy.Ressi offers a rare perspective that bridges Silicon Valley innovation, emerging market opportunity, and the ethical frameworks needed to ensure technology and capital drive positive global impact. Whether you're a founder navigating the AI transformation, an investor deploying capital in new markets, or an ecosystem builder shaping regional strategy, this conversation reveals what's possible when amazing times meet intentional action.
The session explores how the UAE is building sovereign and regionally tuned AI capabilities, spanning data, regulation, and market design,…
The session explores how the UAE is building sovereign and regionally tuned AI capabilities, spanning data, regulation, and market design, to anchor the next decade of AI-driven economic growth from Dubai to the world, with a focus on tangible opportunity. It will highlight why global AI companies, investors, and founders should choose Dubai and the UAE as their base, showcasing opportunities across government, big tech, platforms, and capital through the lenses of Accenture, Dubai DET, TECOM/DIC, Astratech, and DFDF.
Exploring how strategic investors and corporates partner with startups, including CVC trends, value-add capital, and innovation ecosystems.
As AI becomes mission-critical, leaders face tough choices between building proprietary platforms and adopting third-party solutions. This board-level discussion unpacks…
As AI becomes mission-critical, leaders face tough choices between building proprietary platforms and adopting third-party solutions. This board-level discussion unpacks the strategic, technical, and governance trade-offs shaping the pragmatic AI stack of 2026.
A fireside chat with Dan Hu of Tencent Cloud on how AI‑powered super apps and global tech ecosystems are overcoming…
A fireside chat with Dan Hu of Tencent Cloud on how AI‑powered super apps and global tech ecosystems are overcoming organizational, data, and infrastructure barriers to redesign operations, products, and services and scale AI with measurable business impact.
Over the past 20 years, the MENA startup ecosystem has grown from a handful of pioneers into a vibrant, AI-fueled,…
Over the past 20 years, the MENA startup ecosystem has grown from a handful of pioneers into a vibrant, AI-fueled, capital-rich region with global ambitions. In this session, the OGs of the MENA ecosystem will focus less on retelling familiar origin stories and more on sharing practical advice for today’s founders. The conversation will zero in on how startups can leverage AI to innovate, scale, and stay competitive, and how founders, investors, and governments can apply hard-earned lessons to build a more resilient, inclusive, and globally leading ecosystem for the next decade.
Despite often being labeled as slow-moving, the energy sector—particularly oil and gas—is at the forefront of AI adoption. This session…
Despite often being labeled as slow-moving, the energy sector—particularly oil and gas—is at the forefront of AI adoption. This session explores how data-driven innovation is transforming productivity, sustainability, and collaboration between tech startups and energy giants.
A hands-on workshop for founders to create a complete, data-driven growth strategy, covering customer personas, competitive positioning, channels, and conversion…
A hands-on workshop for founders to create a complete, data-driven growth strategy, covering customer personas, competitive positioning, channels, and conversion tracking.
Every investor conversation counts and every founder knows that a strong pitch can open doors but most struggle to communicate…
Every investor conversation counts and every founder knows that a strong pitch can open doors but most struggle to communicate their vision, traction, and value clearly. In this 60-minute, interactive session, founders will learn what truly matters in a pitch deck, how to structure their investor story, and the techniques to deliver it with clarity and confidence. Through frameworks, examples, and mini exercises, you’ll leave with a checklist of essential deck slides, a narrative that resonates with investors, and actionable strategies to make every pitch meeting count.Join us to learn how to structure an investor-ready pitch that gets noticed, apply storytelling techniques to present with clarity, and walk away with practical frameworks and strategies to deliver your story with impact.
As AI accelerates and human creativity holds its ground, the future hangs between insight and instinct. Through questions on storytelling,…
As AI accelerates and human creativity holds its ground, the future hangs between insight and instinct. Through questions on storytelling, creative direction, and sales impact, two teams face off to define which force will dominate tomorrow’s creative and commercial landscape.
To truly build an AI economy, strategic AI agents must sit at the core of governments, enterprises, and startups. From…
To truly build an AI economy, strategic AI agents must sit at the core of governments, enterprises, and startups. From national policy to startup pivots, competitive advantage will increasingly depend on agentic AI capable of deep strategic thinking and analysis.
Can human instinct outplay AI intelligence in shaping the future of business? Three high-stakes questions push both sides to battle…
Can human instinct outplay AI intelligence in shaping the future of business? Three high-stakes questions push both sides to battle over who truly holds the power to drive growth, build agencies, and make the decisions that matter.
In a world where everyone’s scrolling, skipping, and multitasking, grabbing attention isn’t enough; you’ve got to earn it. This panel…
In a world where everyone’s scrolling, skipping, and multitasking, grabbing attention isn’t enough; you’ve got to earn it. This panel explores how marketers are turning attention into a measurable asset and competitive advantage. Hear from media and brand leaders on how they’re optimizing creativity, data, and budgets to cut through the noise and make every second count.
This conversation brings together the perspective of a regional retail operator and investor, and a global platform shaping how commerce…
This conversation brings together the perspective of a regional retail operator and investor, and a global platform shaping how commerce now flows through social and messaging - to unpack how retail is being rebuilt from the bottom up.
A candid conversation with Y Combinator alumni founders from the Middle East and North Africa on what it takes to…
A candid conversation with Y Combinator alumni founders from the Middle East and North Africa on what it takes to break into the world’s most competitive startup accelerator. Hear how they navigated the application process, scaled their startups globally, and leveraged the YC network while staying rooted in the MENA ecosystem. Expect real stories, lessons learned, and advice for founders aiming to become market leaders in their regions or go global.
The top startups from Round 1 advance, refining their pitches and showcasing the most promising solutions.
When thinking is automated, presence becomes the work.As AI automates thinking, human presence becomes the scarcest and most valuable capability…
When thinking is automated, presence becomes the work.As AI automates thinking, human presence becomes the scarcest and most valuable capability in leadership. This experiential session reframes executive presence as coherence under complexity, and explores how to embody awareness in a way that is a strategic advantage no system can replicate.
In today's high-pressure environment, the biggest drain on performance is not workload, but reactivity. This session, led by Stefania Brunori,…
In today's high-pressure environment, the biggest drain on performance is not workload, but reactivity. This session, led by Stefania Brunori, focuses on how successful leaders use Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to transition from crisis management to strategic clarity.
You will master the three essential EQ skills necessary to stabilize your internal state and elevate team output. We will provide actionable frameworks for communicating with confidence, setting strategic boundaries, and fostering genuine team resilience.
Learn to leverage emotional agility as your primary tool for strategic leadership, ensuring your voice drives high-impact decisions and builds an unbreakable, people-focused culture.
deploying AI to sales is not just buying another tool but actually finding gaps in your system & effectively using…
deploying AI to sales is not just buying another tool but actually finding gaps in your system & effectively using AI and tools at right places to make it do tedious sales operations & actually increase the efficiency without adding any extra head counts.
This high‑level session explores how AI and advanced technologies serve as foundational enablers for economic renewal, productivity, and inclusive growth…
This high‑level session explores how AI and advanced technologies serve as foundational enablers for economic renewal, productivity, and inclusive growth across the Levant and the “Mashreq Al Araby” region. Ministers and thought leaders will discuss national strategies, regulatory reforms, and innovation ecosystems driving competitiveness for the coming decade.
In this fireside chat, Magnus Olsson explores what it means to evolve a multi-service super app into an AI-first platform.…
In this fireside chat, Magnus Olsson explores what it means to evolve a multi-service super app into an AI-first platform. He’ll discuss Careem’s vision for integrating AI across verticals, lessons from leading digital transformation in MENA, and how AI is reshaping how Careem serves millions across the region.
Ramadan remains the highlight of the media calendar across the region, but its meaning and impact are evolving. From changing…
Ramadan remains the highlight of the media calendar across the region, but its meaning and impact are evolving. From changing consumption behaviors to content that connects deeper, this session explores how brands and agencies are reframing their Ramadan strategies for relevance, resonance, and results. Featuring new insights from MBC Media Solutions and perspectives from top brand and agency leaders.
Experience how work changes when AI merges with your daily work to produce finished deliverables, not “helpful drafts”: Justin Liu…
Experience how work changes when AI merges with your daily work to produce finished deliverables, not “helpful drafts”: Justin Liu (Co‑founder & Chief Architect at Genspark) reveals how complex workflows collapse into a few decisive moments—so you leave with a new standard for teams: humans own the decisions, systems own the workflow, and your vision finally gets the execution speed it deserves.
Hear from top GTM leaders and CROs on how AI is reshaping how companies identify opportunities, close deals, and sustain…
Hear from top GTM leaders and CROs on how AI is reshaping how companies identify opportunities, close deals, and sustain revenue momentum.
How founders, regulators, and advisors de‑risk the move and scale faster from Dubai-based hubs than from other hubs, with concrete…
How founders, regulators, and advisors de‑risk the move and scale faster from Dubai-based hubs than from other hubs, with concrete levers like setup speed, visas, and talent access.
Clear communication is one of the strongest competitive advantages in today’s regional business landscape. Yet many professionals across the GCC…
Clear communication is one of the strongest competitive advantages in today’s regional business landscape. Yet many professionals across the GCC still struggle with writing concise emails, handling difficult conversations, and presenting ideas in a way that builds credibility.This workshop gives participants a practical, real-world toolkit for communicating with confidence, clarity, and cultural intelligence. Through scenarios inspired by UAE workplaces, attendees learn how to structure messages, avoid common miscommunication traps, and engage stakeholders across different cultures and seniority levels. The session also highlights communication etiquette that is often overlooked but highly valued in the Middle East… from timely follow-ups to tone management.Participants leave with techniques they can apply immediately to strengthen professional relationships and project a stronger executive presence.
This panel explores how AI-driven transformation succeeds or fails not on tools alone, but on the culture, leadership, and talent…
This panel explores how AI-driven transformation succeeds or fails not on tools alone, but on the culture, leadership, and talent strategies that sit behind them. Executives and builders will unpack how to design organizational structures and technical infrastructure that empower people to adopt AI at scale, while safeguarding ethics, trust, and long-term competitiveness.
In this workshop we review the four major legal themes that affect startups and venture investors (i) corporate registration and…
In this workshop we review the four major legal themes that affect startups and venture investors (i) corporate registration and structuring, (ii) founder agreements, (iii) Safes and convertible instruments, and (iv) equity incentive plans. This is an interactive session so please come prepared to ask questions and to discuss your personal experience.
Discover how leading enterprises are moving beyond theory to successfully deploy AI at scale, transforming operations, customer experiences, and product…
Discover how leading enterprises are moving beyond theory to successfully deploy AI at scale, transforming operations, customer experiences, and product innovation. This discussion brings real-world case studies, lessons learned, and practical insights on strategy, governance, and measuring AI’s business impact.
AngelSpark pitch event showing 2 high potential startups pitching AngelSpark for funding. Watch how real life investment decisions are made,…
AngelSpark pitch event showing 2 high potential startups pitching AngelSpark for funding. Watch how real life investment decisions are made, live on stage!
Regional banks are accelerating digital transformation with AI and modern technologies to boost innovation, customer experience, and resilience. Understand the…
Regional banks are accelerating digital transformation with AI and modern technologies to boost innovation, customer experience, and resilience. Understand the challenges institutions face when redesigning products, optimizing workflows, and strengthening regulator ties to stay competitive.
Hiring for talent is easy.Hiring for alignment is what scales. Using real-world lessons from his book on startup culture, "Advantage:…
Hiring for talent is easy.Hiring for alignment is what scales.
Using real-world lessons from his book on startup culture, "Advantage: Culture", Jaïr Halevi explains why startups that prioritize skills over behavior lose focus, and how hiring for cultural alignment turns culture into a self-reinforcing management system.
Less control.More ownership.Better teams.
Join two standout UAE founders, Eyad Kassar of Qlub and Avinash Babur of InsuranceMarket.ae, for a candid conversation on what…
Join two standout UAE founders, Eyad Kassar of Qlub and Avinash Babur of InsuranceMarket.ae, for a candid conversation on what it takes to build formidable, homegrown companies in the region. Moderated by PK Gulati, this session explores the grit, growth, and game-changing vision behind their success stories.
Explore how AI moves from screens and prompts into agentic workflows, ambient wearables, and infrastructure that users barely notice, using…
Explore how AI moves from screens and prompts into agentic workflows, ambient wearables, and infrastructure that users barely notice, using each speaker’s product as a concrete anchor.
The next AI revolution will move beyond chat interfaces into the physical world.This keynote explores how physical and embodied AI—powered…
The next AI revolution will move beyond chat interfaces into the physical world.This keynote explores how physical and embodied AI—powered by world models, spatial intelligence, agentic systems, and smart glasses—is reshaping how intelligence operates in real environments, with humanoid robots and holograms as its most visible expressions. Drawing on deep experience across Big Tech, governments, and global markets, Cathy Hackl connects technology, capital, and real-world deployment to show how the next AI stack is coming to life.
As AI redefines every layer of financial systems from institutional decision-making to retail personalization, the race is now about mastering…
As AI redefines every layer of financial systems from institutional decision-making to retail personalization, the race is now about mastering intelligence, not just automation. This session explores how global banks, governments, and venture investors are shaping AI strategies that balance innovation with governance, scale with security, and profit with purpose. What frameworks will ensure competitive, responsible, and sovereign AI-driven finance in the decade ahead?
The panel delves into building culture, attracting global talent, leading inclusively, and achieving profitability in an era of rapid, AI-driven…
The panel delves into building culture, attracting global talent, leading inclusively, and achieving profitability in an era of rapid, AI-driven transformation.
A hands-on improv’ comedy workshop where humor meets AI. Discover how the human brain thrives on uncertainty, creativity, and connection,…
A hands-on improv’ comedy workshop where humor meets AI. Discover how the human brain thrives on uncertainty, creativity, and connection, and how improvisational skills like the “yes, and” concept can help us stay human in an algorithm-driven world.
Explore how organizations can move beyond simple prompt-based AI use and integrate AI thoughtfully into roles, workflows, and team dynamics.…
Explore how organizations can move beyond simple prompt-based AI use and integrate AI thoughtfully into roles, workflows, and team dynamics. Learn how to redesign responsibilities, collaborate with AI, and build a tech-forward culture that encourages experimentation, efficiency, and ethical adoption.
Early-stage startups kick off the competition, presenting innovative ideas to a panel of expert judges.
A discussion and reflection on the past year in the tech MENA ecosystems and a prediction for 2026 onwards.
Explore the clash between traditional centralized monetary control and the decentralized innovations of Crypto, questioning which will ultimately shape the…
Explore the clash between traditional centralized monetary control and the decentralized innovations of Crypto, questioning which will ultimately shape the future of finance.
As audiences jump between feeds, streets, and festivals, the real challenge is not just grabbing attention but turning it into…
As audiences jump between feeds, streets, and festivals, the real challenge is not just grabbing attention but turning it into meaningful brand impact. This session brings together creative, media, AI, and live experience leaders to explore how attention is earned, measured, and optimized across digital content (Augustus Media), urban and in-venue screens (Elevision), brand storytelling (Bark & Berg), AI-powered marketing intelligence (Halo AI), and large-scale entertainment platforms (MDLBEAST). The panel will unpack how data, strategic planning, and a new wave of AI tools are reshaping content, targeting, and cross-channel media performance in 2026, while keeping human insight and creativity at the center.
Forget the LinkedIn success stories and polished pitch decks. In this 25-minute fireside, Ray Dargham, Co-founder & CEO of Step,…
Forget the LinkedIn success stories and polished pitch decks. In this 25-minute fireside, Ray Dargham, Co-founder & CEO of Step, sits down with Walid Mansour, Managing Partner at MEVP, for an unfiltered conversation about what's really happening in Middle East venture capital.Walid shares the war stories VCs don't usually talk about: the deals that almost didn't happen, the bets that seemed crazy at the time, and the ones that got away. We'll dig into MEVP's 2025 investment thesis—where they're hunting, what they're contrarian on, and the trends everyone's getting wrong about the region.No VC-speak. No diplomatic non-answers. Just honest insights from someone who's been building the MENA startup ecosystem for over a decade.
Exploring how sophisticated investors turn the perceived volatility of emerging markets into systematic opportunity.
A candid fireside chat with Tim Draper and Ash Kumra exploring the mindset behind some of the most iconic venture…
A candid fireside chat with Tim Draper and Ash Kumra exploring the mindset behind some of the most iconic venture bets of our time. From spotting transformational patterns to backing contrarian ideas early, Tim shares insights on risk-taking, MENA’s emerging “rhino” companies, and what still excites him about investing in the next generation of founders. A must-attend conversation for founders, investors, and anyone curious about how bold ideas become category-defining companies.
This fireside chat with Foodics CEO Ahmad Alzaini will explore how Foodics is weaving AI into its product and fintech…
This fireside chat with Foodics CEO Ahmad Alzaini will explore how Foodics is weaving AI into its product and fintech stack to power smarter payments, lending, and financial management for F&B merchants. The conversation will unpack real use cases, data infrastructure choices, and what an AI‑driven future looks like for restaurants’ cashflow, risk, and financing across MENA and beyond.
Explore how AI-powered payments, digital wallets, and embedded finance are driving new growth for fintech innovators.
What if the “future of work” wasn’t a keynote topic—but your default workflow today? In this interactive, hands-on workshop, Dustin…
What if the “future of work” wasn’t a keynote topic—but your default workflow today?
In this interactive, hands-on workshop, Dustin Zhu will run a live build session where you bring real projects you’re actively working on—and we use Genspark together to get tangible work done during the session. Instead of learning “tips and tricks,” you’ll watch as projects move from ideas and scattered notes to polished outputs in a few minutes.
This workshop explores how real-world assets—such as real estate, commodities, funds, and intellectual property—can be tokenized and brought on-chain, unlocking…
This workshop explores how real-world assets—such as real estate, commodities, funds, and intellectual property—can be tokenized and brought on-chain, unlocking new levels of liquidity, transparency, and global access. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the RWA landscape, key use cases, and the technologies enabling asset-backed tokens within regulated frameworks. We’ll break down how on-chain finance is reshaping traditional financial systems through smart contracts, decentralized infrastructure, and programmable ownership. The session also covers regulatory considerations, risk management, and real-world case studies from leading markets. Designed for investors, founders, and professionals, this workshop provides practical insights into how tokenization bridges traditional finance and Web3—transforming how assets are issued, managed, and traded in the digital economy.
This panel, powered by MEVCA, explores how venture capital firms are using artificial intelligence to transform deal sourcing, due diligence,…
This panel, powered by MEVCA, explores how venture capital firms are using artificial intelligence to transform deal sourcing, due diligence, and valuation, and reshape how investors identify and back the next generation of startups.
How MENA-founded fintechs and their investors are leveraging AI to drive global competitiveness across payments, lending, and wealthtech.
Exploring the evolving MENA landscape of venture debt and uncovering the emerging markets, sectors, and strategies driving its next wave…
Exploring the evolving MENA landscape of venture debt and uncovering the emerging markets, sectors, and strategies driving its next wave of growth.
A debate on how timing, pricing, and market cycles shape exit outcomes across IPOs, M&A, and secondary transactions. The session…
A debate on how timing, pricing, and market cycles shape exit outcomes across IPOs, M&A, and secondary transactions. The session will explore when liquidity is best achieved through public markets, strategic sales, or private secondaries and how each path shifts value between founders, early investors, late-stage VCs, and new capital providers.
Panelists will debate whether IPO windows truly maximise long-term value or simply offer episodic liquidity, how buyer appetite and regulatory complexity influence M&A outcomes, and why secondaries have emerged as a critical third option in volatile markets. The conversation will also examine how public-market volatility, extended holding periods, and capital recycling pressures are changing behaviour — with founders increasingly balancing partial liquidity and control against full exits, and VCs using secondaries to manage timing risk without forcing premature outcomes.
The leading startups compete for top honors, demonstrating breakthrough ideas shaping the future of tech and entrepreneurship in the MENA…
The leading startups compete for top honors, demonstrating breakthrough ideas shaping the future of tech and entrepreneurship in the MENA region.
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