Enabling Startups, Expanding Borders & Building Ethical AI
Dubai as a Gateway for U.S. Entrepreneurs
Diego Michel, Director of International Business Relations at IFZA, led a workshop titled “From the United States to the World: Dubai as a Path to Success for American Entrepreneurs.”
The workshop delivered actionable insights on how IFZA enables American startups to expand globally through Dubai, leveraging business-friendly regulations, cross-border support, and deep regional connectivity with high-growth markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Panel: Global AI Legislation, Compliance & Reporting
Sara Aiello returned to the stage for a panel on the future of AI regulation. Joined by fellow tech leaders, she discussed how regulatory frameworks must evolve in tandem with AI innovation and how ecosystems like IFZA are essential in helping startups navigate this complexity.
Together, the panel addressed the urgent need for ethical governance, transparent compliance, and collaborative policy development in the age of AI.
Panel: Free Zones – Creating Social Transformation Through Economic Innovation
Moderated by Corey Gray, this dynamic panel featured a diverse lineup of leaders exploring the transformative role of Free Zones in shaping global economic landscapes. Speakers included Coco Liu (COO, Itana), Anna Debecka-Budzisiak (Head of Foreign Trade Office, Polish Investment and Trade Agency – Los Angeles), Diego Michel (Director of International Business Relations, IFZA), Andrew J Cary (Co-founder & CEO, SNAAP Transportation), and Shaik Hamdan (Co-founder & CEO, Rdock). The session unpacked how free zones are evolving into powerful platforms for inclusive growth, connecting capital, talent, and opportunity to drive innovation across borders.
The Future is Co-Created
To conclude Day 3, Sara Aiello delivered an inspiring closing keynote: “The Future is Co-Created – How Startups, Corporates, and Governments Can Build the Next Innovation Powerhouses.”
In this session, Sara challenged the outdated notion of siloed innovation, offering a practical playbook for cross-sector collaboration. Through real-world case studies and actionable frameworks, she positioned Dubai as a living testbed where partnerships between startups, corporates, and governments are already producing tangible impact.
Looking Ahead
Across two action-packed days, IFZA led conversations on startup acceleration, ethical AI, international expansion, and multi-sector collaboration, proving that the future of smart cities lies in connection, not competition.
Whether through workshops for international entrepreneurs, or thought leadership at global summits, IFZA continues to bridge ecosystems, inspire innovation, and drive sustainable transformation, from San Francisco to Dubai and beyond.
