In the recently conducted Smart Cities Summit North America 2025 in San Francisco, more than 450 global government, business, and educational leaders gathered to share ideas on how cities of the future can be safer, smarter, and greener.

One of the summit's highlights is the partnership between IFZA (International Free Zone Authority), Dubai's premier free zone community, and the Smart Cities Council (SCC). Their partnership is a testament to a powerful new direction for Dubai business opportunities and global innovation.

The session focused on "Public Safety, AI, and the Middle East in Focus," and IFZA led the way in demonstrating how Dubai is emerging as a global startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem. As one of Dubai's leading free zones, IFZA demonstrated how free economic zones and smart cities can work together and drive economic transformation and global collaboration.

"Dubai is not just an economic prospect—it's a vision for the future," said Holger Schlechter, IFZA CFO. "We are privileged to partner with Smart Cities Council to empower entrepreneurs with new paths to success by connecting them with Dubai business opportunities that are inclusive, fast-paced, and borderless."

Encouraging Business Setup in Dubai Like Never Before

For startups and entrepreneurs who want to set up a business hassle-free in Dubai, IFZA is the go-to choice. With streamlined registration processes, tax-free benefits, and international accreditation, IFZA provides the ideal platform for entrepreneurs to scale quickly and expand in the high-growth markets of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The summit also saw the announcement of two important initiatives:

·         Smart Cities Council Middle East – an organization established to address increasing demand for Middle Eastern smart city solutions.

·         Smart Cities Academy™ – a learning platform committed to teaching professionals and leaders about smart city innovation.

Corey Gray, President of the Smart Cities Council, referred to the power of global collaboration: "By connecting Silicon Valley's innovation with Dubai's dynamic business community, we're giving startups the chance to pilot and scale their solutions globally."

Dubai: A World-Class Smart City Leader

Dubai is the city innovation leader, placed 4th in the 2025 IMD Smart Cities Index. With its strong digital infrastructure, smart government services, and strategic location, it is the place to be for such smart city investments as Saudi Arabia's NEOM and Egypt's New Cairo.

Perhaps the most highly awaited launch of the summit was Scale360, IFZA's open innovation platform with Plug and Play. The platform connects international startups with corporate partners, investors, and emerging markets—offering new Dubai business opportunities for innovators worldwide.

Why More American Startups Are Moving to Dubai

With over 1,500 U.S. businesses already established in the UAE—Microsoft, Uber, and Cleveland Clinic are just a few of them—the UAE is already a hotbed of interest for U.S. businesses seeking to expand internationally. And with 75% of the country's GDP now driven by non-oil industries, the region is more and more tech- and innovation-driven.

IFZA's attendance at the summit is the launching of its US expansion strategy, with major upcoming events including Deep Tech Week San Francisco (June 2025) and Deep Tech Week Dubai (November 2025). These innovations will create new bridges between Dubai's growing investor community and US startups, further fueling the pipeline of Dubai business opportunities for international entrepreneurs.