Dubai CommerCity, a free zone specializing in digital commerce and a joint venture between D33 and Wasl Properties, has unveiled the agenda, sessions, and speakers for the upcoming second edition of “WorldEV Dubai 2026.” This global forum targeted at the digital commerce sector is set to begin next Thursday under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (D33).
Organized by Dubai CommerCity over three days from February 12 to 14, 2026, in collaboration with WorldEV, an international platform aimed at empowering businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors in cross-border e-commerce and digital trade, the event will kick off with an opening session featuring a keynote address from His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, followed by speeches from His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, CEO of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (D33), and Omar Nart, CEO of the WorldEV platform.
The forum expects participation from over 150 speakers and more than 13,000 attendees from 80 countries, representing a distinguished group of government entities, organizations, and international institutions involved in the digital commerce sector.
The accompanying exhibition will showcase over 160 exhibitors and brands, including prominent global and regional companies in digital commerce, technology, logistics, and finance, such as Temu, Zajil, Landmark Group, Vtex, Omniful, DHL, eBay, and the Amazon Seller Society, along with official participation from Dubai Customs and Emirates NBD, among other leading companies.
Additionally, during the forum, the “Dune” initiative organized by Eurasia Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, will take place. This initiative aims to bring together key investors and innovators within the ecosystem to exchange ideas and explore future opportunities, along with specialized workshops covering various topics for investors. A competition for startups will also be held, awarding a funding prize of 100,000 AED, with over 260 participation requests received.
Creating a Comprehensive Ecosystem
The organization of WorldEV Dubai 2026 for the second time, following the success of its inaugural edition which attracted more than 5,000 participants from over 40 countries, reinforces the forum’s position as a leading global platform for digital commerce. The increase in participant numbers for this edition indicates the growing momentum and international confidence in Dubai’s digital commerce ecosystem, aligning with the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, supported by advanced infrastructure and a flexible regulatory environment that aims to establish the emirate as a global hub for digital trade and enhance its role in leading the future of the digital economy worldwide.
This current edition of WorldEV Dubai will particularly emphasize support for startups by allocating a dedicated area for over 50 companies, fostering direct connections between innovators, investors, and key global players.
Forum Activities
The first day of the forum will feature specialized discussions on digital trade policies, the structure of the new trade system, the integration of e-commerce with logistics and global trade, the evolution of digital marketplaces covering products, services, and experiences, updates in the retail sector within the Gulf states, and investment opportunities in digital startups across the Middle East and North Africa.
It will also explore rapid commerce, cross-border trade in the digital realm, the future of e-commerce in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, digital payment solutions concerning security and speed, building global brands through e-commerce platforms, and the outlook for e-commerce up to 2030, along with the role of entrepreneurs in forming future brands.
The second day’s agenda will focus on sustainability and its role in the growth of digital commerce, automation, AI, and data in supply chain and delivery operations, as well as AI, cybersecurity, and digital trust, the future of cashless payments, and cross-border digital trade in the coming decade.
Further discussions will cover future trends such as conversational commerce, integrated shopping on platforms like ChatGPT, digital transformation in the fashion industry, smart stores, and hybrid shopping experiences, as well as ethics in AI and its accuracy in trade, the attention economy, digital marketing, the integration of trade across digital and traditional channels, and the significance of human resources and talent development in the digital economy.
The third day of the forum will be open to the public and participants, allowing them to explore the exhibition areas, interact with exhibitors, and discover the latest innovations, thereby enhancing networking and business partnership opportunities.
Among the prominent leaders participating in forum sessions are Nehlan Onal Goktechkin, CEO of Hepsiburada, Alistair Croaker, CEO of Tradeling, Bremer Bao, Chief Commercial Officer at DHL, Narendra Yadav, Business Head at ByteM India, Otto Williams, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at PayPal, and Anna Germanous, Regional Director at Meta.
Additional participants include Fadi Ghandour, Chairman of Wamda, Rahul Swaminathan, Founder and CEO of Desertcart, Eddie Farhat, Vice President at E& Investment, Vivek Rajkumar, CEO of 6th Street, alongside many speakers from e-commerce platforms and advanced technology companies.