The “Step Dubai 2026” festival, scheduled for February 11th for two days under the theme “Intelligence Everywhere: The Artificial Intelligence Economy,” is expected to host over 8,000 participants, including more than 400 startups, over 100 companies, and speakers from various regions around the globe, including top experts from Silicon Valley.
This event reflects the UAE’s long-term vision of becoming a leading global hub for innovation in artificial intelligence, fostering talent, and integrating AI into the core of its future economy. “Step Dubai 2026” is an annual technology and startup festival that serves as a cornerstone for the innovation ecosystem across the region. In its 14th edition, it brings together founders, investors, leading companies, public sector stakeholders, and ecosystem partners to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations, and explore emerging opportunities in the tech and startup landscape.
The 2026 version marks a significant advancement from previous iterations, as organizers unveil a fully AI-designed program that supports national priorities related to AI adoption, entrepreneurship, and economic diversification.
According to Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Tecom Group – Commercial Sector and General Manager of Dubai Internet City, AI enhances the digital economy’s capacity for sustainable growth. The “Step Dubai” festival is back this year in strategic partnership with Dubai Internet City, aiming to attract the brightest minds and top leaders in the region to explore the new opportunities that AI offers for entrepreneurs, innovators, and forward-thinking visionaries.
Furthermore, Al Malik emphasized Dubai Internet City’s ongoing commitment to supporting technology-based innovations and advancing the digital economy through high-quality events. The city is recognized as the leading destination in the region for major tech firms, contributing 65% to Dubai’s technology sector GDP, aligning with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Ray Dargham, co-founder and CEO of “Step,” noted that AI has transitioned from a specialized field to becoming the economic infrastructure of the future. “Step Dubai 2026” is dedicated to reflecting the UAE’s clear and ambitious vision for AI, leading the regional trend by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers who actively shape how AI is integrated across diverse industries and sectors.
He added that the UAE was among the first nations to recognize the strategic significance of AI, commencing with the launch of its National AI Strategy in 2017 and the appointment of Omar Sultan Al Olama as the world’s first Minister of AI. The country has set ambitious goals for financial support and business establishment. Our role at “Step” is to connect policies, innovation, and execution by creating a platform where ideas can evolve into globally leading companies originating from the UAE.
<pSaeed Al Quraishi, Vice President of Dubai Digital Economy Chamber, stated that "Step Dubai's" focus on AI highlights the growing shift from testing AI tools to broadly applying these technologies across various products, services, and processes. As a strategic partner for the "Step Dubai 2026" event, the Dubai Digital Economy Chamber is keen to support startups and rapidly growing digital companies by facilitating access to promising partnerships and growth opportunities from Dubai. The chamber is committed to actively contributing to Dubai’s annual plan for accelerating AI adoption by supporting the transformation of innovations and novel ideas into successful digital projects that add value and provide long-term competitive advantages.