# Step

> Step is a new-media and events company that runs one of the largest technology festivals in the Middle East and North Africa. Founded by Ray Dargham in 2011, it stages the annual Step Conference in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, publishes tech newsletters and social platforms like StepFeed, and connects founders, investors and builders. From a first edition of roughly 100 people, it has grown to draw more than 8,000 attendees, with startups featured on its stages collectively raising billions in funding. In 2026 the company extended its model to San Francisco with an AI-focused edition.

- **Founded:** 2011
- **Headquarters:** Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- **Founders:** Ray Dargham (Co-Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~82 employees
- **Products:** Step Conference (Dubai), Step Saudi / Riyadh, Step San Francisco, StepFeed, Yallafeed
- **Notable:** Grew from ~100 attendees in 2012 to more than 8,000 in 2024., Startups featured at Step have collectively secured billions of dollars in funding., Founder Ray Dargham named to Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 (2018).

## Products & services

- **Step Conference (Dubai)** — Flagship annual technology festival held at Dubai Internet City, gathering startups, investors, corporates and tech leaders across AI, fintech, autonomous, digital and Earth tracks.
- **Step Saudi / Riyadh** — Regional edition of the Step festival expanding the platform into the Saudi startup ecosystem.
- **Step San Francisco** — AI and tech startup festival bringing MENA and global founders together with the people building the AI economy; 2026 edition on August 26-27.
- **StepFeed** — Digital media and social news platform covering tech, business and social happenings across the MENA region.
- **Yallafeed** — Social media and content platform producing premium content aimed at a young MENA audience.
- **StepMatch** — Startup-investor matchmaking program and app connecting founders with investors at the festivals.
- **Step newsletters & podcasts** — Weekly Step Feed newsletter and podcast series informing a cross-generational, tech-savvy audience.

## Achievements

- Grew from ~100 attendees in 2012 to more than 8,000 in 2024.
- Startups featured at Step have collectively secured billions of dollars in funding.
- Founder Ray Dargham named to Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 (2018).
- Expanded the festival model from Dubai to Saudi Arabia and, in 2026, to San Francisco.
- Sustained the platform for over 13 editions as a leading MENA startup gathering.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Step Dubai returns to Dubai Internet City on February 11-12, 2026.
- **2026-08** — Step San Francisco set for August 26-27, 2026, centered on the people building the AI economy.
- **2025-03** — Step marked 13 years as a leading platform for startup breakthroughs and investment in MENA.
- **2024-02** — Step Dubai hosted 8,000+ attendees and launched a dedicated AI track.

## Links

- Website: https://stepconference.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/step-conference
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/stepconference
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stepconference
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/stepconference
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stepconferencepage

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/step
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-17