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A Founder's Guide to Dubai's November–December 2026 Event Season

Five business events in three weeks, from Dubai Future Week to GITEX Global and Expand North Star. Here is which ones suit which founders, what the official ticket tiers cost, and how to prepare.

By Entrepreneurs Of Dubai Staff ·
A Founder's Guide to Dubai's November–December 2026 Event Season

DUBAI — Between November 18 and December 11, 2026, the city hosts a run of events aimed at people who build companies. Time and budget are finite, so here is how the official organizers describe each one, what they charge, and how to decide.

The Calendar at a Glance

Dubai Future Week: Context, Not a Sales Floor

Dubai Future Week runs under the theme “for the human of the future.” Its site lists nine ways to take part, including The Big Stage, The Prototype Floor, The Pitch and The Policy Room. Some sessions are marked open to the public, while others are invite-only. The site does not state ticket prices, so check the official page for registration terms.

Our take: go if you want to see where AI, robotics and new energy policy are heading and to meet people shaping them. It is less obviously a place to close customers.

Doers Summit: The Most Founder-Priced Option

The Doers Summit advertises 5,000+ attendees, 100+ exhibitors and two stages on Nov. 25–26. It describes the audience as 30% founders, 30% operators, 20% investors and 20% corporate executives. Its format leans toward workshops, roundtables and curated networking.

Regular ticket prices:

  • Doer (general access): $49. Presentations, expo, food market and the networking app.
  • Founder: $290. Adds deck distribution to attending investors, a listing in the curated startup list, workshops and roundtables, and coworking space.
  • Doer+ (corporate): $390.
  • Startup Spotlight (expo pod): $1,190. Application-based, with a branded pod, pitch eligibility and investor matchmaking.
  • Investor: $490. Application-based.

Tickets are non-refundable but transferable up to 48 hours before the event.

PlanX: A Two-Day Growth Conference on the Same Dates

PlanX overlaps with Doers, so most people will need to choose. It bills itself as a growth conference for founders, operators and investors, with four tracks: Growth, Leverage, Network and Future. It takes place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, and the organizers cite 2,000+ founders and investors. The early-bird price is listed at $498, excluding VAT. There are no single-day passes, and tickets are non-refundable but transferable up to 48 hours before the event (FAQ).

GITEX Global: Two Venues, Two Audiences

The big December event splits in two. The GITEX Summit on Dec. 7 is described as a full-day gathering of ministers, policymakers, tech leaders, investors and founders. The Expo runs Dec. 8–11 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

On the registration page, the Visitor Pass covers expo access and free-to-attend conferences. It is listed at 480 including 5% VAT, a price that expires Oct. 31, with 650 also shown. The Summit Pass is 3,000, the All Access Pass 4,000 and the Premium Pass 10,000. Student passes are 70 (visitor) and 300 (delegate), subject to approval. The page shows no currency label, though GITEX’s visit guide lists the dirham as the local currency, so confirm at checkout.

Expand North Star: The Startup Track

Expand North Star, on Dec. 8–10, is the startup and investor event inside the GITEX week. This year’s lineup includes the Supernova 0X pitch competition, in which 60 startups pitch live for a share of USD 135,000 in equity-free cash prizes. It also includes an ENS Founders Academy and a Founder’s Pass that gives one day in a startup pod. The Visitor Pass above includes exhibition access to Expand North Star.

Which Should You Attend?

  • Early-stage founders on a budget: Doers at $49 or $290 is the lowest listed entry point. The Founder tier includes investor deck distribution.
  • Founders raising capital: Expand North Star’s pitch and investor programming is the most direct fit, plus Doers’ Founder tier.
  • Owner-operators focused on growth: PlanX’s tracks target customers and systems.
  • Founders tracking policy and technology: Dubai Future Week and the GITEX Summit.

Getting Value

  • Pick one event per week and set a goal for each, whether that is investor meetings, customers or market research.
  • Use the apps. Doers, PlanX and GITEX each list an app for networking or matchmaking, so book meetings before you arrive.
  • Bring a current deck and one-pager. At Doers, the Founder ticket distributes your deck to investors.
  • Sort out your visa early. GITEX says nationals of 45+ countries can get a visa on arrival, and that visa processing can take up to six weeks.
  • Plan transport. The Metro’s Red Line serves both GITEX venues.
  • Buy knowing the rules. Doers and PlanX tickets are non-refundable, though transferable.

Prices and schedules come from each organizer’s official site as of Oct. 27, 2026 and may change. Confirm before you buy.

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