Washington, D.C. – The United Arab Emirates has joined 35 other nations in signing the Joint Statement on AI Opportunities during the second Pax Silica Summit in Washington, D.C., further strengthening its position as a global advocate for responsible and secure artificial intelligence development.
UAE Strengthens Its Global AI Leadership Through International Collaboration
The summit brought together government leaders and major technology companies to discuss trusted AI supply chains, secure digital infrastructure, and international cooperation in advancing artificial intelligence. The UAE delegation was led by Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, and included senior officials and representatives from some of the country’s leading technology organizations, including G42, Core42, MGX, and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
By participating in the joint declaration, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to developing AI ecosystems that are secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven. The country’s involvement also highlights its growing role as a trusted global partner in shaping international AI governance and accelerating technological progress.
Building Trusted AI Infrastructure and Supply Chains
The Pax Silica Summit focused on strengthening collaboration among allied nations to build resilient AI supply chains covering critical areas such as semiconductors, computing infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The initiative is increasingly seen as an important platform for fostering trusted partnerships and reducing vulnerabilities in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The UAE’s participation aligns with its broader national strategy to become a global hub for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. In recent years, the country has significantly increased investments in digital infrastructure, AI research, and international technology partnerships, positioning itself at the center of global conversations around the future of AI.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape economies and industries worldwide, the UAE’s engagement in initiatives such as Pax Silica demonstrates its intention not only to adopt emerging technologies but also to actively contribute to the development of responsible frameworks that guide their global implementation.
In Europe, e-commerce is once again becoming a key growth area for retail and consumer companies following the post-pandemic normalization process. According to McKinsey’s assessment, despite macroeconomic pressures and consumers spending more cautiously due to inflation, digital commerce continues to grow. It is stated that e-commerce in Europe is growing at an annual rate of 5% to 7%, and that this growth is largely supported by marketplaces.
The Impact of AI Is Increasing in E-Commerce Competition
McKinsey emphasizes that the factor distinguishing this new growth cycle from previous periods is not only demand, but also artificial intelligence-powered capabilities. While generative artificial intelligence transforms product discovery, content production, and customer interaction, analytics systems turn pricing, product variety, and delivery processes into continuously optimized structures.
Otto CEO Boris Ewenstein stated, “AI is the next paradigm shift in e-commerce. Just like the transition from catalogs to online, from online to mobile, and from mobile to platforms, AI will fundamentally change how customers shop and how we serve them.”
Agentic Commerce Is Changing the Shopping Journey
According to the news, agentic AI is redefining e-commerce competition with systems that search for products on behalf of consumers, evaluate options, and carry out multi-stage transactions. McKinsey research shows that 38% of consumers in Europe use generative AI tools for product and service research. In addition, it is projected that by 2030, between $3 trillion and $5 trillion in revenue in global B2C retail could be shaped through agentic commerce models.
Allegro CTPO David Roberts stated that traditional shopping, hyper-personalized recommendations, and the headless commerce model, in which AI assistants shop on behalf of users across platforms, will develop in the customer journey.
Retail, Media, and Omnichannel Are Converging
According to McKinsey, the boundaries between content, media, and purchasing processes are also disappearing. Short videos, live broadcasts, and content creators are no longer only traffic sources, but also function directly as digital stores. Pandora Senior Vice President of E-Commerce Jesper Damsgaard stated, “We want every online interaction to feel as carefully crafted and designed as our jewelry.”
It is also stated that AI-powered retail media networks have become an important area of profitability for companies. The news states that retail media margins can be up to 10 times higher than core retail margins.
Operational Efficiency Comes to the Fore with AI
McKinsey states that AI can reduce transaction time in customer service by 40% to 60%, that AI-powered pricing can increase gross margins by 2 to 5 points, and that it can reduce inventory costs in the supply chain by 10% to 20%. It is stated that in the new era of e-commerce, competitive advantage will strengthen among companies that position AI not only as a tool, but as the core structure of the commercial system.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the employment structure in the e-commerce sector. While the debate over which jobs will be transformed has continued since large artificial intelligence models began to become widespread, recent data shows that customer service and design roles are directly affected by this change.
According to the “2026 E-Commerce Talent Market Insights” report obtained by Wall Street News from 51job, customer service positions remained the largest hiring category in the e-commerce sector in the first quarter of 2026. Despite this, these positions ranked among the areas that saw the largest year-over-year decline in job postings. A significant decrease in the number of job postings was also observed in design-focused positions.
A New Role Definition in Customer Service with Artificial Intelligence
In e-commerce, customer service has long been one of the largest employment areas for platform sellers, brand owners, and service providers. These teams carried out basic operations such as customer inquiries, after-sales support, order processing, returns, and exchanges.
However, the maturation of artificial intelligence-supported customer service systems has begun to change this picture. Intelligent systems can now manage most standard scenarios such as product recommendations, order tracking, return and exchange procedures, and the resolution of after-sales issues.
Some companies are now redefining the role of human representatives not as “problem solvers,” but as “managers of complex exceptions.” This situation shows that companies’ need for customer service personnel is shifting from simple headcount growth toward more competent operational staff.
The AIGC Effect in Design Positions
Design roles are also undergoing a similar transformation. In the past, design teams had to carry out repetitive production, revision, and delivery processes for product detail pages, marketing posters, main images, and short video content.
Today, AIGC tools can perform many basic tasks such as creating product main images, designing posters, producing short video scripts, and generating visual materials. Artificial intelligence is not completely replacing designers, but it is reducing demand for entry-level design labor.
For e-commerce companies, this change means lower content production costs and faster testing cycles. For professionals, it shows a decline in the value of roles based solely on execution skills.
Demand for Technical Talent in E-Commerce Is Increasing
According to the report, demand for technical talent related to artificial intelligence reached its highest level in the last five quarters in the first quarter of 2026. This demand more than doubled compared to the second quarter of 2025.
In China’s e-commerce sector, the core competencies over the past 10 years were supply chain management and traffic operations. In the artificial intelligence era, operational efficiency, user insights, and business decision-making skills are emerging as new areas of competition.
Cross-Border E-Commerce Employment Is Also Rising
The 51job report reveals that globalization continues to be an important driving force in e-commerce growth. In the first quarter of 2026, job postings containing the keywords “cross-border” and “overseas business” reached their highest level in the last five quarters and increased by approximately 20 percent year-over-year.
The “cross-border e-commerce operations” position has ranked among the most heavily recruited categories for many consecutive quarters. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai stood out as the cities with the highest hiring demand due to their mature supply chains, cross-border ecosystems, and international business infrastructures. The international growth of platforms such as TikTok Shop, Temu, SHEIN, and AliExpress is also increasing demand for overseas-focused positions. Hiring data shows that combinations such as “cross-border + operations,” “cross-border + content,” “cross-border + data analytics,” and “cross-border + artificial intelligence” are becoming increasingly critical.
e& UAE, one of the leading telecom services companies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced its strategic roadmap for the transition to autonomous networks in the age of artificial intelligence. The white paper titled “The Path to Full Autonomy: e& UAE’s Strategic Blueprint for Network Transformation in the AI Era”, prepared in collaboration with TM Forum, was introduced as part of DTW Ignite 2026 held in Copenhagen.
With this roadmap, e&UAE aims to move from traditional automation to AI-native, intent-driven and closed-loop operations. e& UAE’s strategy aims to transform telecom networks from manual and reactive structures into intelligent systems that self-optimize, self-heal and keep human governance at the center.
5 Key Pillars in Autonomous Networks for the UAE: Autonomous Network DNA
At the center of e& UAE’s autonomous network strategy are 5 key structures defined as “Autonomous Network DNA”. These are listed as cross-domain intelligence, AI-native and vendor-agnostic operations, agentic and open-source supported structure, end-to-end closed-loop automation and customer-focused artificial intelligence.
The company’s roadmap focuses on 4 main business outcomes: increasing operation and maintenance efficiency, improving customer experience, reducing energy consumption and increasing the speed of bringing services to market. e& UAE aims to reach the Level 4 Autonomous Networks level by 2030 and to establish the foundation for Level 5 self-evolving networks after 2030.
More Than 400 AI Use Cases and 160 ML Models
e& UAE’s previously announced AI strategy also reveals the scale of this transformation specific to the UAE. The company has integrated more than 400 artificial intelligence use cases and 160 machine learning models into its operations. These models are used in areas such as network optimization, energy efficiency, fraud prevention, customer experience, facial recognition, voice biometrics and OCR.
e& UAE CTO: “The future of telecom will be shaped by networks that can think, learn and act autonomously”
e& UAE CTO Marwan Bin Shakar stated that the future of telecom will be shaped by “networks that can think, learn and act autonomously.” Bin Shakar stated that they see autonomous networks as a strategic enabler of the AI era and that this transformation carries networks from operational infrastructure to intelligent digital platforms.
TM Forum CTO George Glass emphasized that autonomous networks are at the center of AI-native telecom. Glass stated that the industry must now move from pilot projects to measurable value, drawing attention to the importance of common architecture, open APIs, high-value scenarios and standard evaluation frameworks.
According to a report by AI-native customer support platform Kim.cc, customer expectations clearly reveal where artificial intelligence is useful in customer service and where human support remains indispensable.
Kim.cc published its “AI Customer Support Sentiment Report,” based on a survey conducted with 1,000 customers in the United States. One of the most striking findings of the study was that 35 percent of respondents said they immediately feel frustrated when they realize customer support is powered by AI. Despite this, customers are more open to the use of artificial intelligence for simple tasks such as order tracking, delivery updates, and frequently asked questions.
According to the report, 45 percent of respondents welcome AI support for simple customer service tasks such as checking order status, receiving package delivery information, learning store hours, reviewing return policies, and getting answers to basic FAQs.
Expectations for Human Support Are Increasing in Sensitive Matters
Customer expectations shift toward human support in more complex and sensitive processes. According to the research, 45 percent of respondents believe human involvement is necessary when fixing a broken device or software bug, 50 percent when processing a refund, billing dispute, or plan upgrade, and 60 percent when filing a complaint about a poor experience. In addition, 50 percent of respondents hold company leadership responsible for deploying an unready tool to cut costs when AI-powered customer service answers a query incorrectly.
Gen Z and Millennials Are Less Loyal to AI Support
Although Gallup data shows that Gen Z is the generation most open to using AI in daily life, Kim.cc’s research shows that only 16 percent of Gen Z do not mind seeing AI in customer service. Gen Z and Millennials stand out as the groups most likely to switch brands after a poor automated support experience. These generations are more than twice as likely as other generations to change brands. Among Baby Boomers and Gen X, more than 50 percent combined say they feel highly frustrated when dealing with AI customer support.
“Customers Want Automation When It Saves Time”
Sachin Jaiswal, Founder and CEO of Kim.cc, said: “Customers are not rejecting AI customer support; they are rejecting poor customer service experiences. That is why it is crucial for brands to have AI and humans working together. Customers want automation when it saves time, but they still expect access to a real person when the situation calls for it.” The research shows that, for retail and e-commerce brands, a hybrid customer service model is no longer merely an option but a natural outcome of customer expectations.
Chinese technology and e-commerce giant Alibaba has introduced its new robotic model family, the Qwen-Robot series, which carries artificial intelligence beyond chatbots. Developed on the company’s Qwen foundation model family, the new series aims to enable robots to move more intelligently in the physical world, understand their surroundings, and perform complex tasks.
Alibaba’s move shows that the new focus in global artificial intelligence competition is not limited to systems that generate text and images, but also includes embodied AI models capable of carrying out tasks in the physical world.
The Qwen-Robot Series Consists Of Three Foundation Models
The Qwen-Robot series consists of three main models: Qwen-RobotNav, Qwen-RobotManip, and Qwen-RobotWorld. Qwen-RobotNav focuses on enabling robots to navigate different environments, reach targets, and follow tasks. The model brings together five different navigation tasks under one framework, including instructio n following, going to a target point, object-oriented navigation, target tracking, and autonomous driving.
Qwen-RobotManip, on the other hand, was designed to improve robots’ capabilities to grasp, carry, place, and perform physical tasks involving objects. This model aims to offer robotic arms and different hardware structures the ability to move more flexibly.
The third model in the series, Qwen-RobotWorld, is based on a world modeling approach that enables robots to understand their environment and predict future physical scenarios. In this way, the goal is for robots not only to perceive what they see, but also to make more accurate decisions by anticipating possible outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence Gives Robots a “Brain”
According to Alibaba’s statement, the Qwen-Robot series was developed to enable robots to be used more reliably and for more general purposes in the real world. The models can be used separately, while they can also work together to give robots the capacity to navigate, interact with objects, and model the physical world.
The new series aims to bridge the gap between “seeing” and “taking action” in artificial intelligence. This approach aims to make it possible for robots not only to understand commands, but also to transform those commands into physical movements.
China’s Ambition in the Robotics Race Is Strengthening
Alibaba’s Qwen- Robot move is regarded as a new indicator of accelerating competition in artificial intelligence and robotics in China. Technology companies in the country are increasing their investments to use artificial intelligence more widely in industry, logistics, the service sector, and autonomous systems.
With the Qwen-Robot series, Alibaba aims to take on a stronger role in next-generation robotic solutions that move artificial intelligence out of digital screens and into the physical world. This development may pave the way for robots to be used across a wider range of areas in the coming period, from production and warehousing to transportation and daily life support systems.
The U.S. administration has taken a notable decision in the field of artificial intelligence by ordering restrictions on foreign nationals’ access to Anthropic’s most advanced AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Following the decision, Anthropic disabled global access to the models in question in order to comply.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy was also reported to be among the technology leaders who conveyed concerns to senior U.S. administration officials regarding the security risks of Anthropic’s models. San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company Anthropic had previously limited the broad release of its Mythos model due to its advanced cybersecurity capabilities.
Anthropic Argued That the Risk Was Limited
The company later released Fable, described as a publicly available version, with certain cybersecurity safeguards. However, the U.S. government assessed that some of the model’s security measures could be bypassed through “jailbreak” methods and that this could be misused to identify software vulnerabilities. Anthropic, for its part, argued that the risk in question was limited and that similar findings could also be obtained through other publicly available models.
The decision shows that artificial intelligence is no longer merely a matter of technological competition, but has also become a strategic field in terms of national security, export controls, and geopolitical power balances. The U.S. administration’s directive points to a framework that could cover not only users outside the United States but also foreign nationals located within the United States. This indicates that criteria such as citizenship and trusted country status may increasingly come to the forefront in access to advanced artificial intelligence models.
Following the restriction, the issue was also brought to the agenda at the G7 summit. According to diplomatic sources, G7 leaders evaluated a plan that could allow selected “trusted partners” to access advanced artificial intelligence models developed by U.S.-based companies. This approach reflects the demand for controlled access to advanced models, particularly to strengthen the cybersecurity defenses of allied countries.
Anthropic Crisis Signals a New Era in the Global Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem
According to experts, the Anthropic crisis signals the beginning of a new era in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. While governments seek to bring advanced artificial intelligence models under control as strategic technologies, companies are trying to strike a balance between innovation, customer access, and regulatory pressure. The European Union’s ongoing discussions with Anthropic regarding possible access to the Mythos model also show that the issue is critical not only from a U.S.-centric perspective, but also in terms of the global digital security architecture.
This development is seen as an important turning point for artificial intelligence companies, cloud providers, governments, and global enterprises. The process shaped around Amazon, Anthropic, the U.S. administration, and G7 countries indicates that access to advanced artificial intelligence models may from now on be managed through stricter security, oversight, and international cooperation mechanisms.
WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026, which focused on the e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence ecosystems, concluded with strong participation and significant international representation. The event brought visitors from 82 countries together in Istanbul. Brands shaping digital commerce, technology companies, retail leaders, logistics players, entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers came together under one roof. WORLDEF CEO Omar Nart said, “WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 was not merely a trade fair or a conference; it became a powerful platform that enabled the e-commerce, retail, artificial intelligence and digital commerce ecosystems to grow together.”
WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 hosted 22,000 visitors over three days between June 11 and 13, 2026. At the event, 187 brands from different sectors exhibited at booths, while 250 speakers took part in the stage programs. Foreign visitors accounted for 35 percent of participants. As a result, WORLDEF ISTANBUL became a strong meeting point for the regional and global e-commerce and retail ecosystem.
At the event, which featured companies operating in e-commerce, retail, artificial intelligence, technology, logistics, fintech, SaaS, digital marketing and cross-border e-commerce, new collaborations, strategic meetings, brand gatherings and networking opportunities stood out. WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 brought together not only brands in Türkiye but also companies seeking to expand into global markets with international stakeholders.
Omar Nart: It became a powerful platform that enabled digital commerce ecosystems to grow together
WORLDEF CEO Omar Nart stated that WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 achieved significant success for the e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence ecosystem, saying: “WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 was not merely a trade fair or a conference; it became a powerful platform that enabled the e-commerce, retail, artificial intelligence and digital commerce ecosystems to grow together. Welcoming 22,000 visitors from 82 countries in Istanbul once again demonstrated Türkiye’s potential to become a regional trade hub. The collaborations and connections established throughout the event generated highly valuable and productive results for brands seeking to expand into global markets.”
Omar Nart also underlined WORLDEF’s global vision, stating: “Digital commerce has now become an ecosystem that transcends borders, is strengthened by technology and grows through collaboration. As WORLDEF, our goal is to carry brands emerging from the MENA region and Türkiye to the world, bring global brands together with the region’s strong players, and build a sustainable business network that shapes the future of e-commerce and retail. The strong interest we witnessed at WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 shows that this vision has been strongly embraced by the industry.”
It offered new opportunities for the e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence sectors
Stage sessions, panels and special meetings held as part of the event addressed artificial intelligence, digital transformation, next-generation retail, cross-border e-commerce, logistics technologies, marketplace strategies, customer experience and global growth models. Leading speakers from the industry shared their experiences and future visions regarding the transformation of digital commerce with participants.
With its exhibition booths, stage programs, special networking events and global participant profile, WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 offered new opportunities for the e-commerce and retail sectors. The event stood out as an important platform where trends shaping the future of digital commerce were discussed, brands evaluated their strategies for entering new markets, and international collaborations were developed.
WORLDEF’s next event will be held in Antalya
WORLDEF will continue to support brands’ growth journeys through events that bring the e-commerce and retail ecosystems together on a global scale in the coming period. WORLDEF’s next event will be the “WORLDEF PRIME Matchmaking Summit,” which will be held in Antalya between December 8 and 10, 2026.
The summit, which will bring together e-commerce and retail professionals from around the world, is positioned as a special matchmaking platform designed to establish important connections among decision-makers, brand executives, investors, technology providers and industry leaders. The organization, to be held at Antalya Kremlin Palace, will bring together industry representatives from more than 50 countries. One-on-one meetings and strategic sessions held throughout the event will contribute to the expansion of global e-commerce networks.
The global e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence event WORLDEF ISTANBUL honored the most successful e-commerce brands. For the “ECOM BRANDS 100” awards, 365 e-commerce brands across 33 categories were evaluated and awards were presented to the 100 most successful e-commerce brands.
As part of WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026, the “ECOM BRANDS 100” awards ceremony was held at Yenikapı Event Area for the most successful e-commerce brands. Organized with Sürat Kargo as the main partner, the ceremony brought together leading representatives of the e-commerce ecosystem on WORLDEF ISTANBUL’s Future Commerce Stage.
Launched to highlight brands that demonstrate real performance in digital commerce, ECOM BRANDS 100 made Türkiye’s successful e-commerce brands visible as a category-based competition and voting platform. With a performance-oriented evaluation approach, the platform focused not on perception, but on real growth, scale, impact and the success achieved in digital commerce, and honored the sector’s leading brands.
Ömer Nart: This Was Our Responsibility Toward the Sector
Senior guests from e-commerce brands, sector representatives, business partners and important stakeholders of the digital commerce ecosystem attended the awards ceremony. While the music, dance and illusion performances held throughout the ceremony added color to the night, the award-winning brands received great applause on the Future Commerce Stage.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, WORLDEF CEO Ömer Nart pointed out that companies maintaining their presence in digital had not previously been honored in such an organization and said, “This was our responsibility toward the sector. Every year, we will honor those who make it onto this list.”
Within the scope of ECOM BRANDS 100, 365 brands across 33 categories participated in the voting. As a result of the voting, the 100 brands that ranked received their awards on the WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 stage. The organization, which featured brands shaping the future of digital commerce across Türkiye, became an important gathering that rewarded success, innovation and sustainable growth in the e-commerce ecosystem.
The Competition Categories Covered a Broad Ecosystem
At ECOM BRANDS 100, brands competed in different categories such as women’s clothing, men’s clothing, underwear & pajamas, baby & children’s clothing, women’s shoes, men’s shoes, bags, skin care, makeup, hair care, perfume & deodorant, auto accessories & in-car products, carpets & rugs, glassware & kitchen, home decoration, home furniture, home goods & organizers, garden & outdoor furniture, study room & office furniture, toys, sportswear, hobbies & music & art, home & cleaning, petshop, DIY store, gifts & party supplies, vitamins & supplements, healthy snacks & diet food, jewelry & accessories, food, snacks and beverages, and modest fashion & shawls.
With ECOM BRANDS 100, WORLDEF aims to reward excellence in the e-commerce ecosystem and increase the visibility of successful brands. The organization, held for the first time as part of WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026, is planned to be organized traditionally every year from now on and to become a strong index that rewards the achievements of e-commerce brands.
ECOM BRANDS 100 was launched to discover brands demonstrating performance in digital commerce, identify the players that stand out across categories, and make the sector’s leaders visible through a community-oriented selection model. This new tradition, which began in WORLDEF’s 10th year, will continue to reward brands that contribute to the development of Türkiye’s e-commerce ecosystem every year.
WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 opened its doors at the Yenikapı Event Area. Hosting nearly 25 thousand participants from all around the world, WORLDEF ISTANBUL brought together the e-commerce, retail, technology, artificial intelligence and digital commerce ecosystems.
WORLDEF ISTANBUL began with a magnificent opening ceremony held at the Yenikapı Event Area. Held on June 11-13, 2026, the WORLDEF ISTANBUL is positioned as one of the most important gatherings of the e-commerce, retail, technology, artificial intelligence and digital commerce ecosystems. Taking place with the participation of nearly 25 thousand people from approximately 60 countries, the event brought together sector professionals, brands, entrepreneurs, technology companies, investors, marketplaces, logistics companies and digital commerce leaders under the same roof.
A magnificent opening ceremony was held for WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026. The WORLDEF ISTANBUL ceremony, hosted by WORLDEF CEO Ömer Nart, was attended by Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan, Ministry of Trade Director General of Exports Mehmet Ali Yalçınkaya, Dubai Airport Free Zone and Dubai CommerCity Director General Amna Lootah, Dubai CommerCity Vice President Arjun Sarkar, and senior executives of e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence companies.
Ömer Nart: New investments will be discussed and new success stories will begin over three days
WORLDEF CEO Ömer Nart, in his WORLDEF ISTANBUL opening speech, said, “At WORLDEF ISTANBUL, new collaborations will be established, new investments will be discussed, new ideas will emerge and new success stories will begin over three days. In recent years, Türkiye has gained very significant momentum in trade, exports, entrepreneurship, technology and digital transformation. Thanks to the vision set forth by our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the work of our Ministry of Trade and the entrepreneurial spirit of our private sector, our country is becoming stronger in global trade with each passing day.”
Saying, “As WORLDEF, we are very proud to be a part of this transformation,” Nart thanked Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan, who attended the event, and said, “We believe that Türkiye has the potential to become one of the most important centers of digital commerce.”
Amna Lootah: Growth happens when people, businesses and governments work together
Dubai Airport Free Zone and Dubai CommerCity Director General Amna Lootah said, “Just a short time ago, digital commerce was seen as an opportunity; today, it has become a necessity that transforms how businesses grow and how economies compete. In my role at Dubai CommerCity, I see that businesses are looking for three things: speed, access and certainty. We established Dubai CommerCity to create a seamless environment where companies can focus on innovation while we simplify the complexity of cross-border trade.”
Lootah continued as follows: “Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is changing operations; however, technology alone is not enough. Growth happens when people, businesses and governments work together. The developing relationship between the UAE and Türkiye, with a trade volume exceeding 45 billion dollars, is a strong example of this. I look forward to welcoming many of you in Dubai for WORLDEF Dubai 2027, where we can continue building the future of digital commerce together.”
Mahmut Gürcan: E-commerce has now become the main carrier of trade
Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan also stated, “E-commerce channels, digital marketplaces and next-generation logistics solutions are reshaping the structure of trade with each passing day. As Türkiye, in 2025, we realized goods exports of 273.5 billion dollars and services exports of 122 billion dollars; in total, we reached a level of 396 billion dollars. While the global retail e-commerce volume is expected to approach 7 trillion dollars in 2026, e-commerce has now become the main carrier of trade.”
Gürcan noted the following: “As the Ministry of Trade, we attach importance to our companies benefiting from e-export supports; we have increased the number of our target countries from 26 to 35. By establishing strategic collaborations with marketplaces such as eBay, Walmart, Amazon and TikTok Shop, we are increasing the global visibility of Turkish brands. In addition, we are training e-export specialists through the Export Academy and university collaborations. With our strong logistics network and production infrastructure, we will continue to work with all our strength toward becoming a regional hub in digital commerce.”
E-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence were discussed
Within the scope of WORLDEF ISTANBUL, approximately 200 booths were opened, while a broad ecosystem was represented at the event area, from e-commerce infrastructures to payment systems, from logistics solutions to artificial intelligence technologies, and from retail innovations to marketplace solutions. Participants had the opportunity to establish direct contact with companies from different sectors, develop new collaborations and evaluate opportunities for global markets.
Throughout the WORLDEF ISTANBUL, more than 200 speakers will take the stage and make important assessments on topics such as the future of e-commerce, transformation in retail, the impact of artificial intelligence on commerce, cross-border sales strategies, digital payment systems, logistics technologies and next-generation customer experience. The event will bring together the leading names, decision-makers and brands of the sector over three days, hosting new business connections, strategic partnerships and inspiring sessions.
