Dubai CommerCity Announces WORLDEF Dubai 2026 Agenda

Dubai CommerCity, the region’s first free zone dedicated fully to digital commerce, has announced the agenda and speakers list for WORLDEF Dubai 2026, a global forum focused on digital trade and cross-border e-commerce. Dubai CommerCity is a joint venture between Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties.

The forum will be held from 12 to 14 February 2026 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DIEZ. The event will begin on Thursday, 12 February, with an opening session that includes a keynote address by His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. The opening will also feature speeches by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ, and Omar Nart, Chief Executive Officer of WORLDEF.

WORLDEF Dubai 2026 is expected to host more than 150 speakers and welcome over 13,000 visitors from 80 countries, including government entities, institutions, and local and international companies working in digital trade. The accompanying exhibition will feature more than 160 exhibitors and brands from the e-commerce, logistics, payments, and technology sectors. Major participants include Temu, Zajel, Landmark Group, VTEX, Omniful, DHL, eBay, and Amazon Seller Society, along with official participation from Dubai Customs and Emirates NBD.

Alongside the main forum, activities under the Dune Initiative will also take place. The initiative is organized by Oraseya Capital, the investment arm of DIEZ, and will bring together investors and innovators from across the DIEZ ecosystem to exchange ideas and explore future opportunities. It will also include specialized investor-focused workshops and a startup competition that received more than 260 applications. The winning startup will receive a grant of AED 100,000.

WORLDEF Dubai 2026 follows the success of its first edition, which attracted more than 5,000 visitors from over 40 countries. Organizers said the sharp rise in participation this year reflects growing international confidence in Dubai’s digital trade ecosystem and supports the goals of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33. This edition also strengthens its support for startups through a dedicated Startup Zone, which will host more than 50 startups and connect innovators directly with investors and global industry leaders.

The forum’s sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including digital trade policies, the future of global commerce, e-commerce integration with logistics, evolving marketplace models, and retail modernization in Gulf countries. Discussions will also focus on quick commerce, cross-border digital trade, the future of e-commerce in GCC markets, digital payment solutions, brand-building through e-commerce platforms, and growth forecasts for the sector through 2030.

The second day will highlight sustainability in digital trade, automation, artificial intelligence, and data in supply and delivery operations. It will also cover artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trust, the future of cashless payments, and how cross-border digital trade may develop over the next decade. Other featured themes include conversational commerce integrated with ChatGPT, digital transformation in fashion retail, smart stores, hybrid shopping experiences, AI ethics in commerce, the attention economy, digital marketing, and talent development in the digital economy.

The third day will be dedicated to the public and participants, giving visitors the opportunity to explore exhibition pavilions, connect with exhibitors, and discover the latest innovations, while also strengthening networking and business partnership opportunities.

WORLDEF Dubai 2026 will feature a strong lineup of global business leaders and digital trade specialists, including Nilhan Onal Gokcetekin, CEO of Hepsiburada, Alistair Croker, CEO of Tradeling, Bremar Pauw, Chief Commercial Officer of DHL, Narendra Yadav, Chief Business Officer of Paytm India, Otto Abasi Williams, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at PayPal, and Anna Germanos, Group Director of FMCG, Luxury, Retail and E-commerce at Meta. The speaker list also includes Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Capital, Rahul Swaminathan, Founder and CEO of Desertcart, Eddy Farhat, Vice President at e& Capital, and Vivek Rajukumar, Chief Executive Officer of 6thStreet, along with many other leaders from e-commerce platforms, retail brands, and advanced technology companies.