Mansoor bin Mohammed attends launch of WORLDEF Dubai 2026

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, affirmed that digital commerce has emerged as a strategic pillar of the UAE’s economic development and a vital enabler of Dubai’s global competitiveness, reinforcing its position as a leading hub for next-generation trade powered by innovation, digital integration, and intelligent supply chains.

His Highness today attended the opening of the WORLDEF Dubai 2026 Forum, the region’s largest global gathering dedicated to digital commerce. Hosted in Dubai for the second consecutive year, the forum is taking place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), and organised by Dubai CommerCity, the region’s first and leading free zone dedicated exclusively to digital commerce and a joint venture between DIEZ and Wasl Properties.

The three-day forum, running until 14 February, is held in collaboration with WORLDEF, the international platform committed to supporting the global expansion and growth of cross-border e-commerce and digital commerce companies. The event brings together more than 16,000 delegates from more than 80 countries.

HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed emphasised that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, focuses on building an integrated digital economy that anticipates global transformations, strengthens connectivity between logistics gateways and digital systems, and advances agile regulatory frameworks that facilitate seamless cross-border trade while enhancing efficiency and long-term sustainability.

The strategic initiatives announced during WORLDEF Dubai 2026 reflect Dubai’s sustained commitment to advancing a future-ready, digitally-enabled economic model through artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, strengthened international partnerships, and the cultivation of an integrated innovation ecosystem that enables enterprises to expand confidently across regional and global markets, His Highness said.

The opening ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ; Her Excellency Amna Lootah, Director-General of Dubai CommerCity and Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ); Omar Nart, Chief Executive Officer of WORLDEF; and several Ambassadors, Consuls General and representatives from government entities and leading international digital commerce companies.

UAE’s first Applied AI Innovation Centre

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnessed the announcement of the establishment of the UAE’s first Applied Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre within Dubai CommerCity by IIT Madras Global Research Foundation, which facilitates market access and investment for startups across the GCC. The centre aims to position Dubai as a regional and global launchpad for applied AI innovation, where solutions are developed, deployed, and scaled through a long-term platform focused on sustainable innovation and value creation.

His Highness also witnessed the launch of an economic research paper by Dubai CommerCity highlighting the transition from traditional trade models to integrated, technology-enabled digital commerce ecosystems powered by e-commerce, digital payments, smart logistics, fintech innovation, and data-driven cross-border services. The report also examines the future of economic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of India, particularly following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022. It highlights building digital trade corridors, integrating digital infrastructure, and establishing trusted frameworks to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions and advance trusted digital trade corridors that enhance regional and global economic integration.

In addition, His Highness witnessed the launch of a joint initiative between Dubai CommerCity and Dubai Customs aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of digital trade and supporting efforts to develop an integrated business environment that facilitates trade flows and enhances the efficiency of Dubai’s trade ecosystem.

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