Reflect Festival, one of Europe’s leading technology and startup gatherings, has signed a strategic collaboration with the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec) to deepen engagement across innovation ecosystems and co-create initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and the creative economy.

Reflect Festival, held annually in Limassol, Cyprus, is the largest platform connecting startups, investors, and venture capital from Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The newly formalized partnership with Dtec, located within Dubai Silicon Oasis – Dubai’s dedicated district for knowledge and innovation under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) – marks a significant step toward building long-term cross-regional collaboration.

“Since 2018, Reflect Festival has become a unique platform that has helped create hundreds of partnerships between tech leaders, startups, and investors across three key regions – Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. All of this has been possible in Limassol, the place that symbolically sits between them,” says Stylianos Lambrou, co-founder of Reflect Festival and The Doers Company. 

“This year, the festival is hosting over 10,000 participants and more than 300 startups. Year after year, we’re also seeing growing interest from investors and VC funds from the Middle East, as they increase their support of and capital provided to startups. This new collaboration with Dubai will allow us to co-create meaningful initiatives focused on relationship-building, emerging technologies, thought leadership, and ecosystem development – engaging top talent across both public and private sectors.” 

The collaboration was announced during a press conference at Reflect Festival 2025, which marked a record-breaking 8th edition with over 250 speakers and 10,000 attendees across two days.

A Shared Roadmap for Innovation, Testbeds, and Joint Initiatives.

The collaboration outlines a framework for mutual ecosystem engagement and innovation facilitation. Key areas of focus include knowledge exchange programs, innovation-driven campaigns, ecosystem roundtables, and public-private dialogues involving startups, corporates, investors, and government stakeholders.

The parties are currently designing a long-term roadmap to co-lead initiatives between the two regions – positioning Dtec and Reflect as complementary hubs for innovation, venture building, and thought leadership.

"Dubai Silicon Oasis is designed as a future-ready district to accelerate innovation, collaboration, and cross-border business. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to positioning Dubai as a global destination for talent, capital, and transformative ideas," says Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis. "It also aligns with our broader vision to attract high-impact ventures and global innovation leaders to Dubai. By bridging ecosystems between Europe and the Middle East, we are strengthening our position as a hub for future industries and entrepreneurial growth," he added.

Unique Initiatives to Drive Ecosystem Development

As part of this strategic collaboration, the parties will explore opportunities to showcase emerging technologies, elevate creative industries, and support community-building through curated content, storytelling, and thought leadership programs.

"We’re excited to share our knowledge and expertise with our peers and partners in the Middle East. After eight years of building strong partnerships and a vibrant community in Cyprus, we’re now laying the groundwork for a broader set of initiatives," said Dušan Duffek, Co-Founder of Reflect Festival, The Doers Company, and Managing Partner at Zero One Hundred VC. "This is the beginning of a new tradition – one that may soon grow beyond Reflect Festival itself, which already stands as one of Europe’s leading platforms for startups and innovation."

This collaboration directly supports the ambitions outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, both of which aim to position Dubai as a global hub for knowledge, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

Reflect Festival is the largest startup and technology event in Cyprus. It brings together a diverse community of tech enthusiasts, founders, startup teams, non-profit representatives, corporate leaders, policymakers, and investors in the heart of Limassol. The festival features international keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, an expo, a startup competition, and extensive networking opportunities. Its mission is to bridge Europe and the MENA region, delivering significant value to entrepreneurs, startups, and the broader innovation ecosystem. The eighth edition of Reflect Festival took place on 15–16 May 2025 in Limassol, Cyprus.

Established in 2021, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) unifies and enhances the services of Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Dubai CommerCity (DCC). With thousands of registered companies spanning 20 industries, DIEZ is a pivotal force in Dubai's economic growth, serving as a major catalyst for the city's development and success.

Dubai Silicon Oasis is Dubai’s district and economic zone dedicated to knowledge and innovation. Operating under DIEZ and aligned with Dubai’s Urban Master Plan 2040, DSO is home to over 100,000 residents, 40,000 companies and supports 11 key industry clusters including AI, robotics, Web3, mobility, cybersecurity, and advanced tech manufacturing. It is designed to foster entrepreneurship, research, and sustainable economic growth. 

Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus is the largest tech startup hub in the Middle East, offering a fully integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurs to launch, scale, and innovate from the heart of Dubai Silicon Oasis.