The UAE India Business Council: UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) has renewed its strategic partnership with Expand North Star, the world’s largest event for startups and investors.
The alliance, now in its second consecutive year, underscores the UAE’s commitment to supporting high-growth entrepreneurship, advancing cross-border innovation, and enhancing its position as a global startup hub.
Taking place from 12–15 October 2025 at Dubai Harbor, Expand North Star marks its 10th edition by evolving into a year-round global platform. The event, powered by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, aims to connect founders, investors, and industry disruptors across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Dubai remains the key node in this expanding global ecosystem. Through its continued partnership with Expand North Star, UIBC-UC provides access to its extensive network of 15 Founding Members, which include top Indian and Emirati business organizations driving trade, investment, and business exchange between both nations.
Mr. Faizal Kottikollon Chairman – UIBC-UC & KEF Holdings
“This marks our second consecutive year as Community Partner with Expand North Star, reaffirming the strategic value we see in this global platform. ENS is more than a startup showcase, it’s a dynamic launchpad that connects founders to capital, market intelligence, mentorship, and, crucially, the right networks of investors, enablers, and customers. The UAE continues to emerge as a leading global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, with supportive policies, investor readiness, and world-class infrastructure. For Indian startups, it offers not just geographic proximity, but a real gateway to global expansion.”
The Chairman added that, “At UIBC-UC, our mission is to deepen the UAE-India economic corridor by fostering innovation, driving cross-border investment, and enabling ecosystem-level collaboration. Expand North Star is a vital part of this vision, and we look forward to growing this partnership in the years ahead.”
Role of UIBC-UC in strengthening ties
The renewal of the partnership highlights UIBC-UC’s mission to deepen the UAE-India economic corridor by fostering innovation, encouraging cross-border investment, and facilitating ecosystem-level collaboration. UIBC-UC’s ongoing involvement in Expand North Star ensures that curated startup engagements, investor matchmaking, and high-level discussions will continue to thrive, aligning with emerging innovation tracks like Gitex ScaleX, Green Impact, and Artificial Imagination.
Kottikollon stated that the UAE’s supportive policies, investor readiness, and world-class infrastructure create an ideal environment for Indian startups looking to expand globally, and Expand North Star plays a key role in this vision. These initiatives contribute to the UAE’s national strategies to build itself as a global digital economy hub.
UIBC-UC’s participation in Expand North Star 2025 will focus on supporting startups and facilitating high-impact engagements, ensuring alignment with the UAE’s aspirations for innovation-driven growth. The continued success of this partnership will directly contribute to both the UAE and India’s broader economic strategies, particularly in technology, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation.
Collaborations beyond startups
Alongside Expand North Star, UIBC-UC has been actively strengthening its ties with academic institutions, including the Abu Dhabi School of Management and SP Jain. These collaborations mark significant steps toward creating a dynamic, cross-border innovation corridor between the UAE and India.
This ecosystem aims to foster inclusive growth, deepen bilateral relations, and pave the way for the next wave of entrepreneurship and economic leadership. Kottikollon concluded that together, these partnerships will drive inclusive growth, deepen bilateral ties, and help shape the next decade of entrepreneurship and economic leadership.
Focus on economic growth and healthcare initiatives
As part of its broader mission, UIBC-UC aims to play a vital role in helping both governments meet the objectives of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The agreement seeks to elevate non-oil trade between the UAE and India to $100 billion and secure $75 billion in investments from the UAE to India by 2030.
UIBC-UC recently facilitated the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the India-UAE Friendship Hospital, a healthcare initiative designed to deliver world-class medical services, foster research, and strengthen ties between both nations. The hospital will also serve as a symbol of shared commitment to human development and healthcare equity.
The UAE India Business Council UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) is the official joint chamber established under the patronage of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. UIBC-UC works to promote innovative economic collaboration between the two nations, with a focus on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and business ties.
