Dubai Silicon Oasis is set to elevate the emirate’s position as a regional leader in innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing the renowned Doers Summit—formerly Reflect Festival—to the Middle East for the first time. This pioneering event, organised in partnership with The Doers Company, represents a key addition to the city’s fast-evolving knowledge and startup ecosystem.
Traditionally held in Athens and Limassol, the Doers Summit has emerged as one of Europe’s largest platforms connecting innovative startups, venture capital funds, investors, and enterprises spanning Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The upcoming Dubai edition is expected to convene over 3,000 participants, including hundreds of startups and prominent members of the regional innovation community. With an emphasis on cross-border collaboration and access to capital, the event aims to catalyse new opportunities for both local and international entrepreneurs.
The signing of the landmark agreement was attended by senior figures from both the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus. The official signatories included Badr Buhannad (Deputy Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis), Stylianos Lambrou (Co-founder of The Doers Company and Doers Summit), and Dušan Duffek (Co-founder of The Doers Company & Managing Partner at Zero One Hundred venture capital fund). The ceremony was also witnessed by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni (Executive Chairman of DIEZ) and Demetris Skourides (Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation & Technology at the Government of the Republic of Cyprus), reflecting the sigificance of the partnership.
Badr Buhannad commented:
“Dubai Silicon Oasis was envisioned as a smart and future-ready urban hub designed to foster innovation, talent, and entrepreneurship. Hosting this renowned Summit in collaboration with The Doers Company at DSO reinforces our commitment to enabling knowledge-based industries and aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 to position Dubai among the top global cities for economic and digital leadership.”
He further added:
“The ‘Doers Summit’ supports our mandate to attract future-focused ventures and build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. By connecting European and Middle Eastern innovators, we are accelerating cross-border collaboration and driving progress towards the UAE’s national goals of economic diversification, digital economy growth, and global competitiveness.”
Since its launch in 2018, the summit has enabled hundreds of significant collaborations between founders, investors, and corporates across three continents. Stylianos Lambrou stated:
“Limassol has always been a symbolic location bridging Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In recent years, we’ve seen growing momentum from the Middle East — more venture capital funds, more founders, and stronger support for innovation. Launching in Dubai was the natural next step.”
Unlike conventional business expos, the Doers Summit is purposefully designed as an experience-led platform. Its unique format nurtures genuinely meaningful, long-term business relationships by bringing together founders, investors, creatives, corporates, and policymakers in culturally rich settings. The agenda is storytelling-driven, features curated matchmaking, and assembles a select audience focused on venture building, knowledge sharing, and unlocking cross-regional synergies.
After attracting a record-breaking 10,000 attendees and 250+ speakers at the most recent edition in Cyprus, the summit’s expansion to the UAE marks a significant milestone. Dušan Duffek remarked:
“We’re excited to bring this momentum to Dubai. After eight years of building a vibrant ecosystem across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, we’re launching the Dubai edition with strong foundations. Even in its first year, it will deliver the scale, quality, and connectivity needed to unite two of the world’s most innovative regions.”
The Dubai edition will also introduce new networking formats and exclusive side events. Dedicated community areas and lounges are planned to foster informal interaction, encouraging deeper collaborations in both relaxed and high-impact settings.
The arrival of the Doers Summit in Dubai marks an exciting new chapter in the city’s evolution as a global nexus for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven growth.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
