retail - WORLDEF

Raff Raises $1.7 Million to Scale Retail Technology Across the GCC

Raff, the Saudi-based platform is helping consumer brands expand from online into physical retail by digitizing inventory, distribution, fulfillment and payments.

Raff retail technology is gaining momentum in the Gulf after the Saudi Arabia-based inventory management platform raised $1.7 million in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Vision Ventures, with participation from 500 Global, Palm VC, Oqal Group and Salman Butt, co-founder of Salla.

The investment will support Raff’s expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council, while also accelerating product development and the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities.

Helping Brands Move Into Physical Retail

Founded in 2024, Raff operates an end-to-end platform designed for consumer brands expanding into physical retail.

Its technology covers several parts of the retail operating model, including distribution, commercial operations, inventory management, order fulfilment and payments.

The platform also integrates with regional point-of-sale and accounting software, helping retailers automate workflows as their vendor and store networks become more complex.

This gives brands a single infrastructure layer for managing the operational challenges that come with moving beyond online sales.

Offline Expansion Still Creates Complexity

Raff is targeting a problem that is becoming increasingly relevant across the Gulf.

Launching and scaling an online business has become easier in recent years, supported by E-commerce platforms, digital payments, and marketplace infrastructure.

Expanding into physical stores is often more complicated.

Brands entering offline retail must manage inventory across multiple locations, coordinate distributors, track payments, handle fulfillment and connect with different retail systems.

Raff CEO Ali Al Qudah said that while barriers to online commerce have fallen, reaching customers offline still involves multiple operational and commercial hurdles.

The company aims to simplify that transition.

More Than 900 Brands Already Supported

Raff says it has already enabled more than 900 brands across nine countries to expand through physical retail.

That early traction suggests growing demand for technology that connects online-first brands with traditional retail networks.

The company’s model is particularly relevant as more digital-native brands seek additional growth through physical distribution.

Rather than treating online and offline as separate channels, Raff is positioning itself as the infrastructure connecting the two.

Funding Will Support GCC Expansion

The new capital will be used primarily to expand Raff’s presence across the GCC.

The region has become an increasingly active market for retail technology, driven by rapid digitalization, strong consumer spending and continued investment in modern retail infrastructure.

Raff also plans to invest further in product development and AI.

Artificial intelligence could play a larger role in inventory forecasting, order management, demand planning and operational automation as the platform grows.

Investors Look Beyond Online Commerce

The funding round also reflects a broader shift in investor thinking.

Vision Ventures previously invested in Salla, one of the companies that helped enable regional merchants’ move from offline commerce to online selling.

Raff represents the opposite trend.

Brands that grew online are now looking for more efficient ways to enter physical retail.

This makes retail infrastructure increasingly important.

The opportunity is no longer only about helping businesses launch online stores. It is also about helping digital brands manage stores, inventory, distribution and physical expansion without adding unnecessary operational complexity.

Gulf Retail Infrastructure Attracts More Capital

At $1.7 million, Raff’s round is relatively significant for a pre-seed investment and signals growing investor appetite for retail technology in the Gulf.

The company sits at the intersection of several major trends: omnichannel retail, AI, inventory management and regional expansion.

For GCC retailers and consumer brands, the challenge is increasingly less about choosing between online and offline.

It is about building systems that enable both channels to operate efficiently together.

Raff’s funding suggests investors see that integration as one of the next major opportunities in regional commerce.

The Store Is Not Dead. It Just Has a New Job

For more than a decade, retail has been framed as a simple competition, physical stores versus E-commerce.

One side was supposed to win. The other was supposed to disappear.

I increasingly believe that this framework is outdated.

The physical store is not surviving despite e-commerce. In many cases, it is becoming more valuable due to e-commerce.

Recent research published in Harvard Business Review offers a useful explanation. Researchers Ayşe Çetinel, Gürhan Kök, and Robert Rooderkerk examined physical store openings by an online-first, multi-brand electronics retailer and found that stores should not be judged solely by the revenue generated within their walls.

That sounds obvious. Yet many retailers still manage stores and E-commerce as separate businesses.

Stop Thinking in Channels

Retail organizations often have separate teams, targets, and P&Ls for stores and E-commerce.

The online team wants digital revenue to grow. The store team wants physical revenue to grow. Each side protects its own numbers.

Customers do not behave this way.

A consumer may discover a product on social media, compare it online, visit a store to see it, order it through an app, and return it in person.

For the customer, this is one journey.

For many retailers, it is still several departments.

The HBR study demonstrates the problem well. After three physical stores opened, nearby online net revenue initially declined by around 8% to 11%. Yet two large, experience-led stores increased total net revenue across channels by 21.7% and 23.2%. A smaller convenience-oriented store cannibalized online sales without producing meaningful overall growth.

The lesson is important: Cannibalizing your own channel is not necessarily a problem. Failing to increase total customer value is.

The Store Needs a New Job

Historically, stores existed because that was where transactions happened. Digital commerce changed that permanently.

If customers already know what they want, can order it in seconds and receive it quickly, a store that merely recreates an online catalog on shelves has limited strategic value. A modern store needs to solve something that digital cannot solve as well.

Research identifies three particularly important functions: helping consumers evaluate products, offering immediate fulfillment, and making returns or post-purchase problems easier to resolve.

I would go slightly further.

The store of the future is not simply a sales channel. It can simultaneously become a service center, fulfillment node, trust mechanism, showroom, and experience platform.

This matters particularly in furniture, beauty, electronics, luxury, eyewear and premium fashion, where touch, fit, scale, performance or expert advice can still materially change a purchasing decision.

These categories will not become less digital. Their digital journeys will become more sophisticated, while physical interaction remains valuable at specific moments.

Not Every Store Deserves to Survive

This argument should not be interpreted as a call to open more stores indiscriminately.

A bad store does not become strategically valuable simply because we describe it as omnichannel.

Even within the successful stores studied by the researchers, more than four in ten product categories produced no measurable uplift. Some benefited strongly from physical presence; others did not.

Retailers, therefore, need to become much more selective.

Televisions may justify demonstration zones. Furniture may need complete room settings. Beauty requires trial and consultation. Accessories may simply perform better when connected to destination products.

The question should not be: “How do we make every store more experiential?”

It should be: “Where does physical experience genuinely change the customer’s decision?”

The difference is enormous.

One creates expensive retail concepts. The other creates productive retail.

The Store Is Also Becoming Infrastructure

Physical stores increasingly have another role: fulfillment.

A location may support online orders, shorten delivery distances, hold inventory closer to customers, enable pickup, and simplify returns.

Once this happens, measuring the store only through its own sales becomes even less meaningful.

This is particularly important as fulfillment speed, inventory visibility and last-mile economics become central competitive factors in E-commerce.

Amazon taught the industry that logistics is part of the customer experience.

Omnichannel retailers are now discovering that the store itself can become part of logistics.

AI Makes the Question More Interesting

Artificial intelligence will make online shopping dramatically more efficient.

Search will become conversational. Recommendations will become deeply personalized. AI agents may increasingly compare products, identify the best offers, and eventually make some purchasing decisions for consumers.

And that creates an interesting paradox.

The more efficient digital commerce becomes, the more valuable physical presence may become in the moments when people still want judgment, reassurance, discovery, or sensory confirmation.

Routine transactions will continue migrating online.

Physical retail will increasingly concentrate on the moments where presence actually adds value.

That is not the store’s decline. It is specialization.

What Retailers Are Actually Looking For

We can already see this transition in the conversations retailers themselves are initiating.

Ahead of WORLDEF Prime Antalya, which will bring the retail and E-commerce ecosystem together on December 8–10, participating Hosted Retailers have been asked to identify the solutions and capabilities they are actively looking for before arriving.

The pattern is revealing.

Among the verified Hosted Retailer applications, 62% are looking for data, analytics, and AI solutions, 60% for commerce platforms, 45% for marketing solutions, 36% for web and mobile experience technologies, and 28% for CRM and customer-experience solutions. The participants also span logistics and fulfillment, digital product, technology infrastructure, and other functions that increasingly connect physical and digital retail.

To me, this is more interesting than simply saying retailers are “investing in digital.”

What they are really trying to build is an operating system in which channels no longer function independently.

That is also why the Hosted Retailers format at WORLDEF Prime Antalya is structured around declared business needs rather than random networking. Retail decision-makers specify their priorities in advance, and meetings are matched to actual requirements and relevant solutions.

The important point is not the event itself.

It is what these requirements tell us about where retail is going.

Retailers are no longer asking whether they should be physical or digital. They are trying to understand how AI, data, fulfilment, commerce technology and stores fit into one customer journey.

There Is Only Commerce

The biggest challenge may therefore no longer be technological.

Most large retailers already have websites, apps, CRM systems, digital payments and increasingly advanced logistics.

The deeper challenge is organizational.

If physical teams are rewarded for store revenue while digital teams are rewarded for online revenue, both sides will naturally defend their channels.

Research instead suggests evaluating performance through total net revenue, customer acquisition, purchase frequency, retention and returns across the whole customer relationship.

This is where retail needs to go next.

We should stop talking about E-commerce and physical retail as two competing worlds.

There is only commerce. The customer has already understood this. Retail organizations are the ones still catching up.

The winners of the next decade will not necessarily be those with the most stores or even those with the strongest E-commerce platforms.

They will be the companies that understand when digital convenience creates value, when physical presence creates value and how to connect the two without caring which channel receives credit for the transaction.

The store is not dead.

It simply has a much more demanding job description now.

Authentic Brands Group Expands E-commerce Partnership Across Europe

Authentic Brands Group is extending its partnership with Luzern eCommerce beyond Reebok, giving more brands access to Amazon, Zalando, ASOS, TikTok Shop, and other European marketplaces.

Authentic Brands Group E-commerce expansion is gaining momentum in Europe as the multibrand owner broadens its strategic partnership with Dublin-based Luzern eCommerce.

The expanded agreement follows Reebok’s performance across major European marketplaces and will now make Luzern’s marketplace and advertising capabilities available to a wider group of Authentic’s brand operators and licensees.

The move reflects Authentic Brands Group growing emphasis on digital marketplaces as an important channel for international growth.

Partnership Expands Beyond Reebok

Authentic Brands Group’s relationship with Luzern was initially focused on supporting the growth of Reebok across European marketplaces.

Following what the companies describe as successful marketplace expansion for the sportswear brand, the partnership will now be extended across Authentic’s broader portfolio.

Luzern will provide Authentic’s operators and licensing partners with access to marketplace management, E-commerce operations, advertising solutions and regional marketplace expertise.

The objective is to help brands scale across multiple European markets while maintaining greater control over areas including merchandising, inventory, distribution and marketplace strategy.

Authentic Brands Group Access to Major European Marketplaces

Through the expanded partnership, Authentic’s brands will be able to access a wide range of online retail platforms.

These include Amazon, Zalando, Otto, About You, Allegro, ASOS and TikTok Shop, alongside other regional marketplaces operating across Europe.

This multi-marketplace approach allows individual brands to expand their geographic reach without relying on a single platform or sales channel.

For brand owners and licensees, the model can also reduce some of the operational complexity of managing marketplace relationships across countries.

Luzern Strengthens Marketplace Operations

Luzern eCommerce specializes in marketplace management, retail media, and digital commerce operations.

Its model combines marketplace strategy with advertising and operational support, allowing brands to manage performance across several platforms from a more integrated structure.

The company is also an Amazon Ads Advanced Partner and a Zalando Marketing Services partner.

These partnerships give Luzern direct experience with two of Europe’s largest online platforms for fashion, sportswear and lifestyle products.

For Authentic Brands Group, this expertise provides an opportunity to expand individual brands while maintaining greater oversight of how those brands are positioned and promoted across marketplaces.

Marketplaces Becoming More Important for Authentic

The expanded partnership also highlights a broader shift in how global brand owners approach E-commerce.

Major marketplaces have become increasingly important for brands seeking international reach without building entirely separate direct-to-consumer operations in every market.

Instead of treating marketplaces purely as external distribution channels, companies are increasingly integrating them into broader digital commerce strategies.

Authentic appears to be taking a similar approach.

The company is developing what it describes as a flexible marketplace ecosystem designed to support its network of operators.

Tim Derner, Global Head of Marketplaces at Authentic, said the company’s strategy is focused on giving operators greater flexibility.

He noted that Luzern’s work with Reebok demonstrated the partnership’s potential value and said Authentic now plans to make those capabilities available across its wider portfolio.

Marketplace Control Remains a Priority

One of the key challenges for global brands selling through marketplaces is maintaining control over brand positioning, pricing, inventory, and customer experience.

Marketplace expansion can quickly increase sales reach, but it can also introduce operational complexity.

Authentic’s expanded partnership with Luzern is intended to address some of these challenges by combining marketplace expansion with centralized strategic and operational support.

This model allows brands to increase marketplace penetration while continuing to manage key commercial decisions related to merchandising, inventory, and distribution.

For license-driven brand groups such as Authentic, this is particularly important because individual brands can be managed by different operators across multiple regions.

European E-commerce Strategy Broadens

The Authentic Brands Group E-commerce expansion comes as European digital commerce continues to become more fragmented across marketplaces.

While Amazon and Zalando remain major players, platforms such as About You, Allegro, Otto, ASOS and TikTok Shop increasingly provide additional routes to consumers.

For international brands, this means European marketplace strategies are becoming more multi-platform.

Brands must increasingly decide not only which markets to enter, but also which marketplaces, advertising formats and fulfilment models are most appropriate for each region.

Partnerships with specialised marketplace operators can therefore play a larger role in helping brands navigate these differences.

Authentic Builds a Scalable Marketplace Ecosystem

Authentic’s decision to expand the Luzern partnership beyond Reebok suggests the company sees marketplace expertise as a capability that can be shared across its brand portfolio.

Rather than developing entirely separate E-commerce strategies for every label, Authentic can provide operators with access to a common ecosystem of technology, marketplace management and advertising partners.

The approach could make it easier for individual brands to enter new European markets while reducing the time and resources required to build local marketplace operations.

For Authentic, the strategy is also consistent with its broader licensing-led business model, where brand development is often carried out through a network of operating partners.

As marketplaces become increasingly important within European fashion and lifestyle retail, the expanded partnership gives Authentic another tool for accelerating digital distribution across its international portfolio.

Bombay High Court Orders Amazon to Hand Over Expired Goods for Disposal

The Bombay High Court has directed Amazon Retail India to hand over all expired and perished goods stored at its Bhiwandi warehouse to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for scientific disposal.

The order comes amid an ongoing dispute between Amazon and the Maharashtra FDA over the suspension of the warehouse’s licence.

Court Orders Scientific Disposal

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad directed Amazon to prepare an inventory of all expired and perished products at the Bhiwandi facility and transfer them to the concerned FDA officer.

The FDA will oversee the disposal process in accordance with applicable regulations, while Amazon will bear the associated costs.

The court has also directed the Maharashtra FDA to file its response to Amazon’s plea challenging the suspension of its warehouse licence by August 27.

Dispute Over Warehouse Operations

The case follows regulatory action against Amazon’s Bhiwandi facility in Maharashtra after the FDA alleged that expired food products had entered the retail market instead of being properly destroyed.

The High Court had previously criticised the FDA for what it described as an excessive approach toward the warehouse, urging the authority to implement enforcement measures in a more systematic manner.

The latest directive provides a temporary arrangement for handling the expired inventory while the broader legal dispute over Amazon’s warehouse licence continues.

Implications for E-Commerce Fulfilment

The case highlights the growing importance of inventory control, product traceability and regulatory compliance in e-commerce fulfilment operations, particularly for food and other perishable products.

As online retailers continue to expand their fulfilment networks, ensuring that expired or damaged inventory is identified, segregated and disposed of in accordance with local regulations remains a critical operational and consumer-safety responsibility.

The Bombay High Court’s decision puts the immediate focus on the safe disposal of Amazon’s expired inventory while the court considers the company’s challenge to the regulatory action.

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Saudi Arabia’s Q1 Consumer Spending Growth Boosts Retail Real Estate Demand

Saudi Arabia’s retail sector continued to show strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with rising consumer spending supporting demand for retail real estate across the Kingdom.

Consumer spending reached SR425 billion ($113.3 billion) in Q1 2026, representing a 6.8% year-on-year increase, according to consultancy Knight Frank. The growth highlights the continued strength of Saudi Arabia’s consumer economy and its growing impact on the country’s retail property market.

Consumer Spending Strengthens Retail Demand

The increase in consumer spending is providing a strong foundation for retailers and landlords as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its modern retail infrastructure.

Higher household expenditure is contributing to demand for shopping centres, retail destinations and other commercial spaces, particularly as consumer activity remains an important driver of the Kingdom’s broader real estate market.

The trend also reflects the ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia’s consumer landscape, where changing lifestyles, population growth and expanding retail offerings are creating new opportunities for brands and property developers.

Retail Real Estate Gains Momentum

The relationship between consumer spending and retail property is becoming increasingly important as Saudi Arabia develops large-scale mixed-use and commercial destinations.

Strong spending levels can encourage retailers to expand their physical presence, while developers benefit from greater demand for high-quality retail locations. This creates a cycle in which stronger consumer activity supports retail expansion and new retail destinations, in turn, provide additional opportunities for brands.

Saudi Arabia’s retail market is also being shaped by the Kingdom’s wider economic diversification strategy, which places greater emphasis on tourism, entertainment, hospitality and consumer-focused industries.

A Positive Signal for the Saudi Retail Market

The Q1 figures provide a positive signal for retailers, investors and real estate developers operating in Saudi Arabia.

With consumer spending rising by 6.8% year-on-year to SR425 billion, the Kingdom continues to demonstrate significant retail market potential. As new commercial and mixed-use developments progress, sustained consumer demand could remain a key factor supporting the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s retail real estate sector.

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CarrefourSA Completes Majority Ownership Transfer to Yeni Mağazacılık

Ownership Transfer Officially Completed

ISTANBUL – CarrefourSA has officially completed the transfer of its majority ownership to Yeni Mağazacılık A.Ş., the retail company behind Türkiye’s discount chain A101, following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

The transaction covers 89.28% of CarrefourSA’s shares, previously held by Sabancı Holding and Carrefour Nederland BV. With the closing of the deal, CarrefourSA becomes part of Aydın Group’s retail portfolio under Yeni Mağazacılık.

CarrefourSA and A101 to Continue as Separate Brands

Despite the acquisition, CarrefourSA and A101 will continue to operate as separate brands, maintaining independent management structures, distinct retail formats, and their existing brand identities. The companies emphasized that the integration is designed to strengthen CarrefourSA’s financial position while preserving its premium supermarket positioning, with A101 continuing to focus on the discount retail segment.

CarrefourSA will remain under the leadership of CEO Hatice Evren, who will oversee the company’s next phase of growth. Aydın Group stated that the retailer will benefit from stronger financial backing, enabling investments in customer experience, supplier partnerships, employee development, and nationwide expansion.

Growth Strategy Focuses on Expansion and Investment

According to Erhan Bostan, Board Member of Aydın Group, the company aims to leverage CarrefourSA’s strengths in fresh food, product variety, and quality while expanding its footprint across Türkiye. The group plans to increase accessibility by opening new stores and strengthening collaboration with local suppliers, contributing to employment and the country’s organized retail sector.

The completed transaction marks a significant development in Türkiye’s organized retail sector, strengthening Aydın Group’s multi-brand strategy while allowing CarrefourSA and A101 to continue serving different customer segments.

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UK Online Retail Market Reaches Highest Share Since 2021

The United Kingdom’s e-commerce sector has reached a significant milestone, with online retail sales accounting for 29.4% of all retail spending in June – the highest share recorded in five years. The latest figures highlight the continued strength of digital commerce as consumers increasingly choose online shopping for convenience, speed, and wider product availability.

According to data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), total retail sales increased by 1.0% month-on-month in June, exceeding market expectations. Non-store retailers, which include online businesses, recorded a 4.4% monthly increase, making e-commerce the strongest-performing retail segment during the period.

Seasonal Demand Drives E-Commerce Growth

Several seasonal factors contributed to the sharp rise in online retail activity. The UK’s warm summer weather encouraged consumers to purchase products such as fans, air conditioning units, outdoor furniture, and summer clothing through digital channels.

In addition, major sporting events during the month helped stimulate consumer spending, with shoppers increasingly choosing online platforms to purchase apparel, electronics, and event-related merchandise. Retail analysts noted that digital channels benefited from both increased consumer demand and the convenience of home delivery.

Fashion and Technology Retailers Lead Online Performance

Fashion retailers were among the biggest beneficiaries of the June sales surge. Clothing and footwear stores experienced their strongest monthly growth since September, supported by seasonal collections and summer promotions.

Technology retailers also reported solid performance, with increased demand for computers, mobile devices, and telecommunications products. Meanwhile, some traditional retail categories-including department stores and household goods retailers-continued to experience weaker demand, reflecting changing shopping habits and growing consumer preference for online channels.

The figures demonstrate how e-commerce continues to outperform many brick-and-mortar retail segments as shoppers increasingly prioritise convenience and competitive pricing.

Challenges Remain Despite Positive Retail Momentum

Despite the encouraging retail figures, economists remain cautious about the outlook for the second half of the year. Rising household bills, persistent inflationary pressures, and global economic uncertainty may continue to influence consumer spending behaviour.

While consumer confidence has shown signs of improvement in recent months, retailers are expected to remain focused on promotions, loyalty programmes, and enhanced customer experiences to maintain growth in an increasingly competitive market.

What the Latest Figures Mean for the UK E-Commerce Market

The latest data reinforces the UK’s position as one of Europe’s most mature and dynamic e-commerce markets. With online sales approaching one-third of all retail spending, digital commerce continues to reshape the retail landscape.

As businesses invest in faster fulfilment, omnichannel experiences, artificial intelligence, and personalised shopping journeys, the role of e-commerce is expected to become even more significant. For retailers, the latest sales figures underline the importance of strengthening digital capabilities to meet evolving consumer expectations and sustain long-term growth.

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Retail Sales in Türkiye Increased by 13.7 Percent Year-on-Year in May

Retail sales in Türkiye increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year and by 2.4 percent compared with the previous month in May 2026. According to the Trade Sales Volume Index data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute, total trade sales volume increased on a monthly basis while declining year-on-year.

Retail Sales Gained Momentum on a Monthly Basis

Trade sales volume increased by 0.7 percent in May 2026 compared with the previous month. During the same period, the sales volume of the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose by 2.9 percent.

Retail trade sales volume increased by 2.4 percent month-on-month, while wholesale trade sales volume declined by 0.6 percent. As a result, retail sales returned to growth following the monthly decline recorded in April.

In April 2026, retail trade sales volume had decreased by 1.6 percent month-on-month, marking its first monthly decline since July 2025. The year-on-year increase during the same period was reported at 11.4 percent.

Total Trade Sales Volume Declined Year-on-Year

In May, total trade sales volume decreased by 1.4 percent compared with the same period of the previous year. The sales volume of the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles declined by 1.7 percent year-on-year, while wholesale trade sales volume fell by 7.8 percent.

By contrast, retail sales increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year, becoming the subcategory of the trade sector that recorded growth.

Sales Data in E-Commerce and Artificial Intelligence Systems

Retail sales volume data is among the indicators used to monitor demand trends, product movements, and consumer shopping behaviour in physical retail and e-commerce operations.

AI-powered retail systems can use data such as historical sales, promotional periods, price changes, and e-commerce traffic in demand forecasting processes. Forecasts generated by these systems can be incorporated into stock planning, product procurement, and inventory management operations.

WORLDEF ISTANBUL 2026 welcomed 22,000 visitors from 82 countries

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.

“ECOM BRANDS 100” Honored the Most Successful E-Commerce Brands

The Worlds of E-Commerce, Retail and Artificial Intelligence Came Together at WORLDEF ISTANBUL

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.

WORLDEF VIP Connect hosted e-commerce, retail and artificial intelligence leaders