DGlide at Expand North Star 2026: Dates, Venue, and What's New This Year
Expand North Star 2026 runs from December 8 to 10, 2026, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai, running in parallel with GITEX Global. That is a real change from last year: the 2025 edition was held at Dubai Harbour, and the entire GITEX ecosystem has now consolidated at the newly expanded Expo City site.
For a founder, investor, or partner who attended in 2025, that venue move is the first thing to plan around, not a footnote. Booth locations, hotel proximity, and travel logistics all shift with it.
DGlide exhibited at Expand North Star 2025, presenting smart governance, aviation, and manufacturing solutions to the world's largest gathering of startups and investors. This piece covers what is confirmed for the 2026 edition, what changed since last year, and where to find DGlide there.
What Is Expand North Star, and How Does It Relate to GITEX Global?
Expand North Star is billed as the world's largest startup and investor connector event, running as a co-located companion to GITEX Global rather than a separate show. GITEX Global itself opens on December 7 with the GITEX Scale Summit, and its main exhibition runs December 8 to 11, with Expand North Star running inside that window from December 8 to 10.
The practical effect is one credential and one venue covering both events. A founder walking the Expand North Star startup floor can access the broader GITEX exhibition halls on the same pass.
What's New for Expand North Star 2026?
The 2026 edition consolidates at a single expanded venue and introduces several named programs, according to the official Expand North Star site.
New venue. The move to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai replaces the 2025 Dubai Harbour location, as GITEX Global's full ecosystem relocates for 2026.
ENS Founders Academy. A three-day academy connecting founders with investors, operators, and experienced builders through five specialized labs.
Supernova 0X. A pitch competition structured by venture stage, with dedicated growth packages for pre-seed and seed startups.
Investor Programme. Curated meetings and deal flow access, positioned as one of the largest VC gatherings for the region, with over 1,300 global investors and more than $1 trillion in assets under management represented.
ENS26 Backers Pitch. A pitch format built specifically around backers and deal-making rather than a general founder showcase.
Planning your travel around the new venue? Talk to us about meeting at Expand North Star 2026.
How Do You Participate, as a Founder, Investor, or Visitor?
Participation depends on which of three roles applies to you, and each has a different entry point. Expand North Star structures its access around founders and startups, investors, and general visitors separately.
Founders and startups. Book an exhibition pod through the official pod portal for a full stand presence, or apply for the Founder's Pass, a lighter-weight option for founders who want visibility and investor access without committing to a full booth.
Investors. Apply for the Investor Programme for curated 1:1 meetings, private lounge access, and deal flow across the startups exhibiting.
General visitors. A unified pass covers both the Expand North Star startup floors and the main GITEX Global exhibition halls.
DGlide at Expand North Star 2026
DGlide returns to Expand North Star for 2026 after exhibiting in 2025, where the focus was smart governance, airport operations, and manufacturing management. The same themes carry forward this year: no-code ITSM, CRM, and field service workflows built for mid-market operations teams in aviation, manufacturing, facility management, and logistics.
If you are attending as a founder evaluating operations software, an investor exploring the enterprise SaaS space, or a partner in aviation or manufacturing, DGlide's team will be on-site at the new Expo City venue. Reach out to schedule a meeting at Expand North Star 2026 once booth details are confirmed.
FAQs
When is Expand North Star 2026?
Expand North Star 2026 runs from December 8 to 10, 2026. It takes place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai. It runs in parallel with GITEX Global.
Where is Expand North Star 2026 held?
The event is held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai. This is a new venue compared to 2025. Last year's edition was held at Dubai Harbour.
Is Expand North Star the same event as GITEX Global?
No, Expand North Star is a co-located companion event within GITEX Global. It focuses specifically on startups and investors. A shared venue and overlapping dates connect the two.
Will DGlide be at Expand North Star 2026?
Yes, DGlide is returning after exhibiting at the 2025 edition. The focus continues on ITSM, CRM, and field service for mid-market operations teams. Reach out to confirm a meeting time on-site.
