By Matthew Brady Global startup event Expand North Star at Dubai Harbour — traffic notwithstanding — far exceeded my expectations. From the sheer healthtech design brilliance of teenage students who could put many of us to shame, to the established device manufacturers who had flown in from across the globe, it was genuinely inspiring.
Marking its 10th edition, Expand North Star, part of GITEX GLOBAL, took place from 12–15 October 2025 and brought together an impressive 2,000 startups and over 1,200 investors, whose combined assets under management exceeded US$1.1 trillion.
One UAE medical student developed an app called MediLingo, which helps patients communicate with their doctors in their own native tongue — such as Urdu — and even conveys how severe their pain is and where it’s located. As someone who’s often struggled to get a point across across cultures, owing to language and nuance (though never in a healthcare setting), the usefulness of this app is immediately clear to me.
Another student-designed innovation from the UAE, Namir, is a wrist-worn wearable that alerts construction workers — particularly in the UAE’s heat — to dehydration. It’s easy to imagine its potential for casual hikers and outdoor enthusiasts too. Seventeen-year-olds designed this?! Applause.
From France, BOYDSense showcased a device that monitors blood glucose levels simply by breathing into it. It’s light, compact, and portable enough to slip into a bag or pocket. Friendly and unintimidating — exactly how a medical device should be. And best of all, no needles. I think we can all agree that’s a very good idea.
Meanwhile, UAE-based Vitalls presented an AI-powered digital health passport that enables you to carry your medical data securely across borders. As someone who’s travelled extensively — and still finds himself hopping on planes regularly — I find this a strikingly good idea.
I also had a great conversation with Hong Kong Polytechnic University about ORAR, an AI-powered digital health platform focused on elderly rehabilitation and digital inclusion. Later, I was fortunate to rejoin the brilliant team from Real Design Tech, the minds behind Ultiracer, whom I had met weeks earlier at GITEX Digi Health in Bangkok, this time at a private event for Korean startups where the teams had the chance to pitch their solutions.
Other healthtech exhibitors I encountered included Aisthesis from the GCC, YOLO and ProvenMed from the UAE, Cogvis from Austria, MediLink 360 from the UAE, Baby FM from Serbia, PrintyMed from Latvia, AIH LLC from the USA, ClaimKit from Oman, Hlthera and Meditech from the UAE, EMED Support Systems from Cyprus, Huray from South Korea, Wellscanpro from Kosovo, Techsacare from Singapore, Forma from Georgia, Moner Bondhu from Bangladesh, and Nanowear from the USA.
The evening entertainment meanwhile was reasonably enjoyable, largely thanks to the waterside setting with its ever-changing Dubai Marina skyline, although the drink queues were rather long and the music felt a touch too generic for my taste.
I eagerly look forward to attending GITEX Global next year, and it’s music to my ears that it will move to Expo City Dubai in 2026, closer to Dubai’s other airport. PR reasons for the move aside, I think we can all agree it has outgrown the current DWTC location, especially at a time when Dubai’s appeal to visitors is higher than ever.
Dubai World Trade Centre