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STEP Dubai 2026: Ray Dargham Reflects on 14 Years of Ecosystem Building

By Entrepreneur Middle East Staff | Feb 18, 2026
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You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Marking its 14th annual edition, STEP has evolved from a regional startup gathering into a globally recognized tech festival. In the conversation with Entrepreneur Middle East Managing Editor Tamara Pupic, Ray Dargham, co-founder of STEP, reflected on how the event’s growth parallels the rapid rise of the UAE’s startup ecosystem over the past decade and a half.

He also discussed STEP’s international expansion into Istanbul and San Francisco, highlighting its ambition to connect founders, investors, and innovators across markets. Sharing advice for entrepreneurs, Dargham emphasized resilience, adaptability, and long-term ecosystem thinking as key ingredients for success in today’s dynamic technology landscape.

Marking its 14th annual edition, STEP has evolved from a regional startup gathering into a globally recognized tech festival. In the conversation with Entrepreneur Middle East Managing Editor Tamara Pupic, Ray Dargham, co-founder of STEP, reflected on how the event’s growth parallels the rapid rise of the UAE’s startup ecosystem over the past decade and a half.

He also discussed STEP’s international expansion into Istanbul and San Francisco, highlighting its ambition to connect founders, investors, and innovators across markets. Sharing advice for entrepreneurs, Dargham emphasized resilience, adaptability, and long-term ecosystem thinking as key ingredients for success in today’s dynamic technology landscape.

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