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Agenda · 12 to 14 February 2026

Dubai 2026 agenda

The full programme of WORLDEF Dubai 2026 at Dubai CommerCity, Dubai: every session, stage and speaker as it ran.

  • 3 days
  • 4 stages
  • 108 sessions
  • 183 speakers and moderators

130 items shown

12 February 2026

Future Commerce Stage

  1. 09:00until 10:00

    Registration & Networking

  2. 10:00until 10:05

    Welcome by Master of Ceremony

  3. 10:05until 10:10

    Opening Remarks

  4. 10:10until 10:25

    Dubai CommerCity: A Living Ecosystem Integrating Commerce, Logistics and Global Trade

  5. 10:25until 10:30

    Launch of IITM Global Applied AI Innovation Hub at Dubai CommerCity

  6. 10:30until 10:45

    From E-Commerce to AI, the Hype Cycles of Tech

  7. 10:45until 11:05

    Empowering Digital Growth: Early-Stage Investment Opportunities in MENA

  8. 11:05until 11:20

    Coffee Break

  9. 11:20until 11:40

    Shaping the New Trade Order: Defining the Policy Backbone for Digital Commerce

  10. 11:40until 12:00

    From Platforms to Protocols: How ONDC Is Rewriting the Rules of Digital Commerce

  11. 12:00until 12:20

    The Marketplace Multiverse: From Products to Services, Experiences, and Beyond

  12. 12:20until 12:50

    Retail Modernization in GCC: Bridging Tradition with Digital Innovation

  13. 12:50until 13:25

    Lunch Break

  14. 13:30until 13:35

    Welcome of His Highness by Master of Ceremony

  15. 13:35until 13:40

    Keynote

  16. 13:40until 13:45

    Welcome Address

  17. 13:45until 13:50

    Launch of Thought Leadership Paper by Dubai CommerCity

  18. 13:50until 13:55

    MoU Signing Ceremony: Dubai CommerCity and Dubai Customs

  19. 13:55until 14:10

    Coffee Break

  20. 14:10until 14:40

    From Clicks to Customs: Frictionless Cross-Border Trade in a Digital World

  21. 14:40until 15:00

    The Future of Logistics: Delivering Speed and Sustainability Across Borders

  22. 15:00until 15:20

    The Future of E-Commerce in the GCC: Trends, Innovation, and Growth Drivers

  23. 15:20until 15:30

    Coffee Break

  24. 15:30until 15:55

    Balancing Speed and Security: The Future of Digital Payment Solutions

  25. 15:55until 16:15

    Scaling on Shopify: Building Global E-Commerce Brand

  26. 16:15until 16:35

    E-Commerce 2030: Technology, Consumer Shifts, and the Road Ahead for Global Marketplaces

  27. 16:35until 16:50

    Entrepreneurial Branding: How Founders Shape the Future of Marketing?

Case Study Stage

  1. 11:00until 11:30

    The Marketplace Mindset: Winning Where Everyone’s Selling the Same Thing

  2. 11:30until 12:00

    Clicks, Carts and Commercial Sense: Turning Ad Spend Into Real Profit

    • Asha BhalsodModerator · Director, Etopia Consultancy / Co-Founder, Women in Amazon Business | Etopia Consultancy / Women in Amazon Business
    • Hannah HughesCommercial Director, Etopia Consultancy / Etopia Consultancy / Women in Amazon Business
    • Sophie DownAccount Director, BASE
    • Neha BhucharCEO, Atom11
    • Sophie O’BrienClient Services Director, Toucan
  3. 12:00until 12:30

    New Market Development: Extending Beyond Your Market

  4. 12:30until 13:00

    Work With & What’s Next: The Reality of Being a Woman in E-Commerce

    • Asha BhalsodModerator · Director, Etopia Consultancy / Co-Founder, Women in Amazon Business | Etopia Consultancy / Women in Amazon Business
    • Hannah HughesModerator · Commercial Director, Etopia Consultancy / Etopia Consultancy / Women in Amazon Business
    • Hallane HillFounder, Running Point Recruitment
    • Ana Cristina dos Santos LobatoBusiness Development Manager, Biotrade Cosmeceuticals
    • Amelia ColebyHead of Ecommerce, DK Household Brands
    • Sophie O’BrienClient Services Director, Toucan
  5. 13:00until 13:30

    Lunch Break

  6. 13:30until 14:00

    Fast, Reliable, Scalable: Logistics Success Stories in E-Commerce

  7. 14:00until 14:30

    Success Stories: Enabling Seamless E-Commerce Transactions

  8. 14:30until 15:00

    Vendor Central (1P) 2026 Playbook: Scaling Profitably in a Changing Marketplace

    • Martin HeubelModerator · Director & Founder, Consulterce Ltd
    • Paul SonneveldCo-founder & CEO, Merchantspring
    • Asha BhalsodDirector, Etopia Consultancy / Co-Founder, Women in Amazon Business | Etopia Consultancy / Women in Amazon Business
    • Carina Dawn McLeodCEO, Ecommerce Nurse Limited
  9. 15:00until 15:30

    How to Protect and Grow Your Profit Margins on Vendor Central in 2026 and Beyond

  10. 15:30until 15:45

    A Practical Cross Border Commerce Framework and Gow Bossa Invest Conecta Global Players to LATAM Builders

Masterclass Stage

  1. 11:30until 12:00

    From Listing to Bestseller: The Exact System That Scales

  2. 12:00until 12:30

    Unlock Your Potential with Amazon Ads

    • Marco TadrosRegional Manager MENAT & South Africa, Amazon Ads
  3. 12:30until 13:00

    No Ads, No Growth: The 2026 Reality for Amazon & eCommerce Sellers

  4. 13:00until 13:30

    How Generative AI is Becoming the Main Assistant for Sellers in 2026

  5. 13:30until 14:00

    From Content to Revenue: Building a Performance Funnel for E-commerce

  6. 14:00until 14:30

    Scaling with Confidence: Smart Fulfillment Solutions to Drive Business Growth and Customer Loyalty

  7. 14:30until 15:00

    Sell Handmade, Flowers & Chocolate on Flowwow: Your Fast-Start Playbook

  8. 15:00until 15:30

    AI-Powered Sourcing: Find Winning Products Faster

  9. 15:30until 16:00

    The Shifts Reshaping E-Commerce in 2026

  10. 16:00until 16:30

    Expand Internationally Without the Banking Headache: Payoneer’s Seller Setup

  11. 16:30until 17:00

    VAT & Tax Essentials for Online Sellers in the GCC

  12. 17:00until 17:30

    Scaling Amazon Globally: UAE Setup, FBA & Cross-Border Compliance

Investment Stage

  1. 10:30until 11:30

    Registration Opens

  2. 11:30until 12:15

    MENA Tech Unfiltered: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Road Ahead

  3. 12:15until 13:00

    Comparing the Notes: Regional vs. International Expansion Playbook

  4. 13:00until 14:15

    Lunch Break

  5. 14:15until 14:45

    AI’s Next Bet: Where MENA VCs are Placing Chips

  6. 14:45until 15:25

    What’s Next for IPOs and Exits: Navigating 2026 and Beyond

  7. 15:25until 15:50

    How Today’s MENA LPs are Thinking About Venture

  8. 15:50until 16:15

    Venture Debt in MENA's VC Stack: Where It Works, and Where It Doesn't

  9. 17:30until 19:30

    Oraseya Capital Mixer, Location: Dubai Creek

13 February 2026

Future Commerce Stage

  1. 09:30until 09:35

    Welcome by Master of Ceremony

  2. 09:35until 09:55

    Green is the New Growth: The Sustainability Imperative in Digital Commerce

    • Flo AkinbiyiModerator · MC, Future Commerce Stage
    • Bremer PauwChief Commercial Officer, Middle East and Africa, DHL Supply Chain
  3. 09:55until 10:25

    From Paper to Platforms: How Automation, AI, and Data Are Redefining Fulfillment Operations

  4. 10:25until 10:45

    AI, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust: The New Competitive Advantage in the Digital Economy

  5. 10:45until 11:00

    Coffee Break

  6. 11:00until 11:20

    The Future of Cashless: Trends in Digital Payments

  7. 11:20until 11:40

    Commerce Without Borders: The Next Decade of Digital Trade

    • Rengin GültekinModerator · Communication Strategist, Kamenta Business Consulting
    • Ozan AcarHead of Global Affairs, Trendyol
  8. 11:40until 12:10

    The Rise of Conversational Commerce 2.0: Shopping Inside ChatGPT

  9. 12:10until 13:30

    Prayer Time / Lunch Break

  10. 13:40until 13:55

    From First Users to Millions: Scaling Marketplaces in the GCC

  11. 13:55until 14:25

    Smart Stores and Phygital Retail: The Blended Shopping Experience

  12. 14:25until 14:45

    Ethics, Accuracy, and Algorithms: Can We Trust AI in Commerce?

  13. 14:45until 15:05

    The Attention Economy: Winning Mindshare in a World of Scrolls and Swipes

    • Flo AkinbiyiModerator · MC, Future Commerce Stage
    • Anna GermanosGroup Director FMCG, Luxury, Retail & E-commerce (MENA, Meta
  14. 15:05until 15:35

    Connected Retail: Blurring the Lines Between Online and Offline

  15. 15:35until 15:55

    The Next Chapter of E-Commerce in the GCC: Speed, Scale, and Expectations

  16. 15:55until 16:25

    The Future of HR in E-Commerce: Building Talent-Driven Growth in the Digital Economy

  17. 16:25until 16:45

    From Platforms to Protocols: How ONDC Is Rewriting the Rules of Digital Commerce

  18. 16:45until 17:00

    Closing Ceremony: Note of Thanks

Case Study Stage

  1. 11:00until 11:30

    E-Commerce Without AI: Is That Still an Option?

  2. 11:30until 12:00

    Performance Marketing in 2026: What’s Still Working, What’s Not?

  3. 12:00until 12:30

    Cross-Border Selling via Marketplaces: Opportunities and Risks

  4. 12:30until 13:00

    Cross-Border Payments and Fintech Innovations: How to Simplify Global Transactions

  5. 13:00until 13:30

    Lunch Break

  6. 13:30until 14:00

    Breaking Borders: Brands That Successfully Expanded Globally

  7. 14:00until 14:30

    AI in Action: Success Stories from Predictive Analytics to Personalization

  8. 14:30until 15:00

    Influencer Marketing in Action: How to Manage Influencer Marketing Campaign for E-Commerce?

  9. 15:00until 15:30

    The New Era of Digital Marketing: Omni-Channel, AI and Social Commerce

  10. 15:30until 15:45

    From Accidental Managers to Conscious Leaders

    • Hakeem HaidarEngagement Manager, MENA, Chartered Management Institute

Masterclass Stage

  1. 12:00until 12:30

    Removing Unauthorized Sellers and Infringers from Amazon

  2. 12:30until 13:00

    Amazon Ads Beyond the Basics: 5 Advanced PPC Strategies That Move the Needle

  3. 13:00until 13:30

    Lunch Break

  4. 13:30until 14:00

    The Amazon PPC Clinic: Diagnose, Fix, Grow

  5. 14:00until 14:30

    Smart Sourcing: How to Improve Cost, Quality, and Lead Time

  6. 14:30until 15:00

    Find Winning Products Faster: The Helium 10 Method

  7. 15:00until 15:30

    Product Research in 2026: What’s Working Now with Helium 10

  8. 15:30until 16:00

    Made in Dubai: Behind the Brand. Lessons from UAE eCommerce Founders (AlNassma Chocolate, OneShot and Nothing Silly)

  9. 16:00until 16:30

    Made in Dubai: Behind the Brand. Lessons from UAE eCommerce Founders (Bubble Bros, Zenarise and Ryokō)

  10. 16:30until 17:00

    Turn Ads Into Profit: The System Behind Sustainable Growth

  11. 17:00until 17:30

    Advanced Amazon Reporting: How to Harness First Party Data To Crush Your Competitors

Investment Stage

  1. 09:00until 10:00

    Registration & Breakfast

  2. 10:00until 11:00

    Startup Competition Judges

  3. 11:00until 11:30

    Fireside Chat with Kamal Reggad (CEO of RemotePass): Pivot, Fundraising and Expending. Interview with a Series-B Founder.

  4. 11:30until 12:30

    Sandbox by Oraseya Capital Showcase

  5. 12:30until 13:00

    Award Ceremony

  6. 13:00until 14:00

    Lunch Break

  7. 14:00until 17:00

    VC Workshops

  8. 17:00

    Event Closing

14 February 2026

Case Study Stage

  1. 11:00until 11:15

    Brand Autopsy: Branding Mistakes That Kill E-Commerce Growth

  2. 11:15until 11:30

    The Zero-Ad Ecosystem: How to Scale Globally by Turning Customers into Micro-Influencers and Brand Owners

  3. 11:30until 11:45

    AI-Driven Omni-Channel Retail Supply Chain Design: A Holistic Framework for Planning and Execution

  4. 11:45until 12:00

    Building Brands that Outlast, Outperform and Outlove in the Age of AI

  5. 12:00until 12:15

    Advertising Tech Solutions and AI in 2026

  6. 12:15until 12:30

    LLMs at the Digital Shelf: What the Data Shows and How GEO Scorecards Turn Signals into Sales

  7. 12:30until 12:45

    E-commerce and Artificial Intelligence

  8. 12:45until 13:00

    From Passive Scrollers to Active Buyers: How Sephora Bridges the "Experience Gap"

  9. 13:00until 13:30

    Lunch Break

  10. 13:30until 13:45

    The Operator’s Playbook: Systems That Turn Amazon Launches into Enduring Brands

  11. 13:45until 14:00

    Beyond Segmentation: Building Hyper-Personalized E-commerce Journeys with AI

    • Funda BingölFounder & Digital Marketing Strategist, Body and Soul Goods
  12. 14:00until 14:15

    Commerce: The Heart of the Economy From E-Commerce Websites to Digital Commerce City Ecosystems

    • Muawiya AlsabbaghDigital Commerce Ecosystem Architect, Founder & CEO, AROMASOFT FZE
  13. 14:15until 14:30

    North Africa’s Untapped Talent: Tunisia at the Crossroads of Skills and Innovation

  14. 14:30until 14:45

    How to Choose the Right Apps for Your Shopify Store

  15. 14:45until 15:00

    Data-Driven Investing: Turning Noise into Conviction

  16. 15:00until 15:15

    In the Future of E-commerce, Speed Won’t Win, Intelligent Logistics Will

  17. 15:15until 15:30

    Extraordinary Achievements Require Extraordinary Inner Power

Masterclass Stage

  1. 12:00until 12:30

    Faster Delivery, Higher Conversion: Logistics as a Growth Lever

  2. 12:30until 13:00

    TikTok Performance Marketing: What’s Working Right Now

  3. 13:00until 13:30

    Doubling Your ROAS on Ads

  4. 13:30until 14:00

    Find Influencers Fast: Using Orbit Vibe to Scale Your Amazon Product

  5. 14:00until 14:30

    AI is Becoming the First Layer of Product Discovery, On and Off-Site

  6. 14:30until 15:00

    From Idea to Protected Brand: Trademarking Made Simple

  7. 15:00until 15:30

    From Supplier to Shipment: A Practical Sourcing Playbook for 2026

  8. 15:30until 16:00

    Market Ready: Compliance for e-commerce in the UAE

WORLDEF Dubai 2027

Dubai 2026 has ended. 26 to 28 Jan 2027 at Dubai CommerCity, UAE. Passes are on sale now.

  • Özcan Ermiş
  • Serkan İnanç
  • Başak Nur Zazaoğlu
  • Hüner Eşrefzade
  • Ömer Can Uçan
  • His Excellency Mahmut GÜRCAN

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