Artificial Intelligence Takes Centerstage At Step Dubai’s 14th Edition Running From February 11-12, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) will dominate the agenda for the 14th edition of Step Dubai, the annual technology and startup event taking place this year from February 11–12, 2026, at Dubai Internet City, one of the region’s leading tech hubs.

Step Dubai 2026, which is being staged under the theme “Intelligence Everywhere: The AI Economy,” has been billed as being aligned with the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, with the event said to be “a reflection of the nation’s long-term vision to become a leading global center for AI innovation, adoption, and talent.”

In a statement, Ray Dargham, co-founder and CEO of Step, said, “AI is no longer a vertical or a niche, it is the economic infrastructure of the future. Step Dubai 2026 is designed to reflect the UAE’s clear and ambitious vision for AI, as it leads the charge regionally, by bringing together the builders, investors and decision-makers who are actively shaping how intelligence is embedded across every industry and sector.”

Dargham added, “The UAE has been one of the earliest nations to recognize the strategic importance of AI, from launching its National AI Strategy in 2017 and appointing the world’s first minister of AI, HE Omar Sultan Al Olama, to setting ambitious targets for economic contribution and company creation. Our role at Step is to act as a bridge between policy, innovation and execution—creating a platform where ideas turn into companies, and companies scale into global leaders from the UAE.”

Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said, “AI is increasingly strengthening the digital economy’s contributions towards long-term prosperity. Step Dubai is returning in Strategic Partnership with Dubai Internet City to unite global minds and regional pioneers to explore how AI will unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators, and future-focused thinkers. As the region’s leading tech hub aligned with Dubai Economic Agenda, ‘D33’, and contributing to 65 percent of Dubai’s technology sector gross domestic product (GDP), Dubai Internet City will continue to champion tech-led innovation and empower the digital economy through such platforms.”

A scene from an earlier edition of Step Dubai.

Step Dubai 2026 also sees the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy join the event as Strategic Partner. Commenting on the entity’s participation, Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said, “Step Dubai’s focus on artificial intelligence highlights the growing shift from testing AI tools to deploying AI at scale across products, services, and operations. As a Strategic Partner of Step Dubai 2026, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is focused on supporting startups and fast-growing digital companies by strengthening their access to partnerships and growth opportunities from Dubai. The chamber remains committed to advancing the emirate’s AI ambitions by helping innovation translate into adoption, value creation, and long-term competitiveness.”

Step Dubai 2026 is set to bring together founders, investors, scaleups, corporates, government. and public sector stakeholders and ecosystem partners to exchange knowledge, build connections and explore emerging opportunities across the technology and startup landscape. The event’s agenda has been structured around four core tracks: Founders and Funders, The AI Stack, AI in Finance, and Human First, reflecting the breadth of sectors prioritized within the UAE’s AI strategy. 

Step Dubai 2026 is expected to attract more than 8,000 attendees, including over 400 startups, and more than 100 companies and speakers from the region and beyond. The program focuses on how AI is reshaping business, finance, technology and creative industries, while providing access to an active investor community representing more than US$12.6 billion in deployable capital.

“Step Dubai 2026 is not just about discussing the future of AI, it’s about building it, here in the UAE,” Dargham added. “By convening global AI leaders alongside regional founders, enterprises and public sector stakeholders, we’re helping turn national ambition into real-world outcomes that support long-term economic growth and global relevance.”

Inc. Arabia is a Media Partner for Step Dubai 2026.

Pictured in the lead image is Ray Dargham, co-founder and CEO of Step. All images courtesy Step.