UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco Lead Strong Arab Presence at VivaTech 2025
Key Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco, have established a formidable presence at the VivaTech 2025 conference in Paris (June 11-14), showcasing the depth and ambition of their rapidly growing technology ecosystems. With large, state-backed delegations, dozens of high-potential startups, and a clear strategic focus, these countries are leveraging one of Europe's top innovation events to connect their entrepreneurs with global investors and markets.
UAE Leads with Largest Delegation and Strategic Partnerships
The United Arab Emirates marked its participation with the largest and most prominent delegation, led by H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economy. The official UAE pavilion featured 32 startups alongside 19 ecosystem enablers, including Hub71, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), and various chambers of commerce.
The participating Emirati startups presented a wide array of innovative solutions in strategic sectors such as AI, healthtech, smart mobility, sustainability, and cloud computing. The solutions ranged from AI-driven real estate platforms and blockchain-based loyalty programs to smart irrigation systems and cybersecurity for data.
Underscoring the UAE's goal of fostering international collaboration, the pavilion hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NodeShift Limited and Qareeb Data Centres to enhance cooperation in data centers and AI services. Minister Al Marri highlighted that the UAE's presence is part of a sustained effort to achieve the "We the UAE 2031" vision and to build on its #1 global ranking in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2024/2025 report.
Saudi Arabia Showcases "Unicorn-Track" Startups
Saudi Arabia's participation, organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at), was highly strategic, focusing on quality and high-growth potential. The Kingdom brought five leading startups described as being on a clear growth trajectory towards achieving unicorn status.
This focused participation is an extension of Monsha'at's efforts to empower promising Saudi companies by enhancing their presence at major international forums. The goal is to connect them directly with global investor networks and new markets, accelerating their international expansion. This initiative is a key component of Saudi Vision 2030's aim to diversify the economy and boost the global competitiveness of its SME sector.
Morocco Champions Pan-African Innovation
Morocco also brought a significant delegation of over 25 startups, led by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform. The Moroccan pavilion was a hub of activity, with startups representing sectors from AI and cybersecurity to e-health and greentech.
Notably, Morocco used the VivaTech platform to position itself as a leader for the continent. The Ministry organized three key panel discussions on the AfricaTech stage, focusing on the role of SMEs as innovation drivers, the importance of support ecosystems for startups, and the keys to successful partnerships between venture capital firms and founders. Through these value-driven discussions, Morocco emphasized its strong commitment to supporting the new generation of entrepreneurs not just at home, but across all of Africa.
A Unified Goal: Global Recognition and Investment
While each nation had a unique focus, a powerful, unified theme emerged: using the global stage of VivaTech to achieve strategic national goals. All three countries demonstrated a clear strategy to move beyond their traditional economic models by heavily investing in technology, innovation, and human capital. Their presence was not just about showcasing individual startups, but about presenting entire national ecosystems as stable, supportive, and highly attractive destinations for international talent, investment, and collaboration.
About VivaTech
Held annually in Paris, VivaTech is one of the world's leading events dedicated to technology and startups. It brings together tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and tech enthusiasts from around the globe, making it a critical platform for networking, fundraising, and discovering the latest innovations.
Looking Ahead: Building the Future from the Arab World
The strong, coordinated presence of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco at VivaTech 2025 sends an unambiguous message to the global community. The Arab world is not just participating in the tech revolution; it is actively working to lead it, building innovative, inclusive, and value-creating digital economies that are poised for significant growth.