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Future Leaders of Tomorrow · Student application

Take your work to GITEX GLOBAL

Join 25 university students on a sponsored week in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Present the problem you’re solving at the world’s biggest tech event, and meet the investors, founders and government leaders working on it.

  • December 3–10, 2026
  • Sponsored places
  • Rolling admission
Start your applicationSee the week
  • 25Seats in the delegation
  • $12,000Per place, mostly sponsor-funded
  • 8 daysDecember 3–10, 2026
  • 11Focus areas

What’s covered

Door to door, from Boston and back

Sponsors cover most of the $12,000 cost of each place: flights from Boston, hotel, meals, badges and visa support. Each student contributes an estimated $1,500, confirmed in your offer before you commit.

Travel to Boston for the group departure isn’t included. If the contribution would stop you coming, say so on the form.

  • Roundtrip flights, Boston to Dubai
  • Hotel, six nights
  • Meals and networking dinners
  • Ground transportation in Dubai
  • VIP badge to GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star
  • A day in Abu Dhabi and cultural experiences
  • Preparation and pitch coaching
  • Curated meetings and introductions
  • Personal photo and video package
  • Insurance, visa support and on-site staff

Who should apply

Students solving real problems

Organized by students with university student clubs. We’re looking for driven students and student founders who want to work on global challenges alongside the UAE.

  • Enrolled at a university, undergraduate or graduate, at any school
  • Any nationality. We support visas, and travel eligibility is reviewed individually
  • Driven by a real problem in one of the focus areas below. No startup or formal research needed
  • Able to travel from Boston, December 3–10, 2026

  • Energy and climate

    Alternative energy · Sustainability

  • AI and compute

    Artificial intelligence · AI infrastructure · Data centers · Semiconductors

  • Frontier tech

    Defense · Aerospace · Robotics

  • Health and finance

    Healthcare · Fintech

Every student gets the stage. Each of you presents your research and the problem you’re solving to GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star counterparts in your field.

The week

8 days, two emirates, one stage

Boston to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and back, built around GITEX GLOBAL.

  1. Thu, Dec 3

    Depart Boston

    The delegation departs Boston for Dubai.

  2. Fri, Dec 4

    Arrival

    Arrive in Dubai at 8:00 pm, hotel check-in.

  3. Sat, Dec 5

    Welcome and culture

    Welcome Breakfast, cultural experience and city tour.

  4. Sun, Dec 6

    Student exchange

    Emirati and visiting students together, with tours of UAE universities.

  5. Mon, Dec 7

    Abu Dhabi Finance Week

    Day trip to Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi Finance Week, closing with a cultural dinner.

  6. Tue, Dec 8

    GITEX GLOBAL

    Pavilion launch, investor and startup meetings, student research presentations.

  7. Wed, Dec 9

    GITEX GLOBAL

    Government and corporate meetings, pitch showcase, networking evening.

  8. Thu, Dec 10

    Return to Boston

    Depart Dubai in the morning; arrive in Boston around 2:00 pm.

  9. After

    Follow-through

    Follow-ups, action plans, presentations to sponsors.

Planned itinerary. Timings may shift around the GITEX programme.

How selection works

Apply, interview, fly

Applications are reviewed as they arrive, and close when the cohort is full. Applying early gives you the best chance of a seat.

  1. 01

    Apply

    Tell us who you are and the problem you’re working on. It takes about ten minutes.

  2. 02

    Interview

    Shortlisted students meet the team for a short conversation.

  3. 03

    Offer

    Selected students get a written offer with logistics, final costs, preparation and a date to decide by.

  4. 04

    Preparation

    Pitch coaching, visa support and briefings before you fly.

  5. 05

    Dubai

    Depart Boston on December 3 and present your work at GITEX.

What the panel looks for

  • Curiosity and initiative
  • Leadership potential
  • Interest in global challenges
  • A track record of achievement
  • Entrepreneurial thinking
  • The judgment to represent your university abroad

Application

Apply to the delegation

About ten minutes. Shortlisted students are invited to a short interview.

About you

Just the country that issued the passport you’d travel on, not the number. We arrange visa support.

Your studies
Your work

The area closest to the problem you’re working on.

Your research, project or startup, or a problem you want to take on. This is what you’d present at GITEX. A few short paragraphs is plenty. 0 / 3,000 characters

Student founders
Availability

We use your details only to assess your application. See our privacy policy.

Representing a company or foundation? Sponsor a student.

Questions

Before you apply

Do I need a startup or published research?
No. Some delegates are founders or researchers and many aren’t. What matters is a real problem you care about and what you’d do about it. The founder questions on the form are optional.
What does it cost me?
Sponsors cover most of the $12,000 cost of each place. Each student contributes an estimated $1,500, and your offer confirms the final figure before you commit. Getting to Boston for the group departure is up to you.
Can I get help with the cost?
Possibly. Tick the box on the form and we’ll talk it through privately. Extra help is limited and not guaranteed.
I’m an international student. Can I apply?
Yes. Students of any nationality can apply, and we support visas. Visa and travel eligibility are reviewed individually. Don’t send passport numbers or scans through the form: the country is all we need.
Do I need to have been to Dubai before?
No. Most delegates haven’t. Selected students are briefed on the UAE, the program and what to expect.
What happens before we fly?
Selected students join preparation sessions before departure: pitch coaching, briefings on the people you’ll meet, and travel logistics.
When is the deadline?
There isn’t a fixed one. Applications are reviewed as they arrive and close when all 25 seats are filled, so applying early helps.