Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), a specialized economic zone and member of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has signed an agreement to host the inaugural Middle East edition of the “Doers Summit.” Formerly known as Reflect Festival, this Cyprus-born event is recognized as one of Europe’s leading startup and technology gatherings.
The Dubai edition aims to attract over 3,000 participants, including hundreds of startups, venture capital funds, and ecosystem leaders from across the region. The summit is designed to catalyze cross-border collaboration and enhance access to capital, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a nexus for innovation.
The agreement was witnessed by His Excellency 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. The signing was formalized by Badr Buhannad, Deputy Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis, Stylianos Lambrou, co-founder of The Doers Company and the Doers Summit, and Dušan Duffek, co-founder of The Doers Company and Managing Partner at Zero One Hundred Venture Capital Fund.
Badr Buhannad commented on the partnership, stating, “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 added that the summit supports DSO’s mandate to attract future-focused ventures and accelerate cross-border collaboration, driving progress toward the UAE’s national goals of economic diversification, digital economy growth, and global competitiveness.
Since its inception in 2018, the “Doers Summit” has facilitated hundreds of partnerships among founders, investors, and corporations from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Stylianos Lambrou noted, “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.” The 2025 edition in Cyprus drew a record 10,000 attendees and over 250 speakers across five stages.
Unlike traditional expos, the “Doers Summit” adopts an experience-led format focused on building meaningful, long-term business connections. The event intentionally brings together founders, investors, creatives, corporates, and policymakers in a dynamic environment, prioritizing venture building, knowledge exchange, and cross-border collaboration through a storytelling-driven agenda, curated matchmaking, and a highly selected audience. The Dubai edition will also feature dedicated zones for informal networking and curated programming to foster interaction.
Dušan Duffek expressed enthusiasm, “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.”
–Input Dubai Media Office
