Dubai Silicon Oasis To Host First Middle East Edition Of Doers Summit For Startups And Investors

Dubai Silicon Oasis, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has partnered with The Doers Company to host the first Middle East edition of the Doers Summit. This event, previously known as Reflect Festival, is a prominent startup and tech gathering in Europe. The summit, held annually in Athens and Limassol, draws thousands of participants from Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Dubai edition aims to bring together over 3,000 attendees, including numerous startups and venture capital funds. This initiative seeks to enhance cross-border collaboration and provide access to capital for innovative ventures. The agreement was signed at DIEZ headquarters by Badr Buhannad of Dubai Silicon Oasis, Stylianos Lambrou of The Doers Company, and Dušan Duffek from Zero One Hundred venture capital fund.

Badr Buhannad remarked on the significance of hosting the summit at Dubai Silicon Oasis. He stated that this aligns with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 to position the city as a leader in economic and digital sectors. "Dubai Silicon Oasis was envisioned as a smart and future-ready urban hub designed to foster innovation, talent, and entrepreneurship," he said.

The summit's format is designed to create meaningful business connections through an experience-led approach. It brings together founders, investors, creatives, corporates, and policymakers in a culturally rich environment. With storytelling-driven agendas and curated matchmaking, it focuses on venture building and knowledge exchange.

Stylianos Lambrou highlighted Limassol's role as a bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He noted increased interest from the Middle East in recent years with more venture capital funds and support for innovation. "In recent years, we’ve seen growing momentum from the Middle East — more venture capital funds, more founders, and stronger support for innovation," he mentioned.

The 2025 edition in Cyprus attracted 10,000 attendees and over 250 speakers across five stages. This growth underscores its impact on fostering partnerships among founders, investors, and corporations from various regions.

Building a Thriving Ecosystem

The Dubai edition will feature zones for informal networking and side events. Purpose-built lounges will encourage interaction in smaller groups within a relaxed setting. This setup aims to foster collaboration among participants from diverse backgrounds.

Dušan Duffek expressed enthusiasm about launching in Dubai after years of building ecosystems across Europe. "After eight years of building a vibrant ecosystem across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe," he said. "We’re launching the Dubai edition with strong foundations."

The Doers Summit has facilitated numerous partnerships since its inception in 2018. It continues to connect European innovators with their Middle Eastern counterparts to drive progress towards economic diversification and global competitiveness goals set by UAE authorities.

With inputs from WAM