As DAFZ celebrates 30 years, global leaders gather to explore what comes next for trade.
- Keynotes will explore smart trade policies and Dubai’s economic growth.
- Dubai Airport Freezone marks its 30th anniversary with the inaugural summit.
- Twenty-seven speakers will examine trade, logistics, technology and investment.
- Four themes cover resilient supply chains and sustainable global commerce.
A product ordered online in Dubai might pass through several countries, warehouses, cargo terminals and customs checkpoints before reaching someone’s doorstep. Behind that seemingly simple delivery is a complex network of decisions, technology and international partnerships. The Future Growth Nexus Summit is bringing the people shaping that network together in Dubai, with global trade, supply chain resilience and the next generation of logistics taking centre stage.
Taking place on 23 November 2026 at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, the inaugural summit is organised by Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) and Forbes Middle East under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The timing carries added significance. DAFZ is celebrating its 30th anniversary, making the gathering an opportunity to reflect on three decades of connecting businesses with international markets while looking ahead to what comes next.
For businesses moving products across borders, reliability has become just as important as speed. Companies are reconsidering supplier networks, trade routes and inventory strategies as geopolitical pressures and changing costs reshape international commerce. The UAE is part of this conversation, with its position as a connector between major markets giving Dubai a significant role in regional and global trade.
That context will bring 27 speakers to the summit, including UAE Minister of Foreign Trade His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, DIEZ Executive Chairman Dr Mohammed Alzarooni and DAFZ Director General Amna Rashid Lootah. Senior industry figures include Aziz Koleilat of GE Aerospace, Lisa Park of A.P. Moller-Maersk, Nabil Sultan of dnata and Amadou Diallo of Aramex. Representatives from DHL Supply Chain, FedEx, Airbus, Thales and other international organisations will also take part.
The programme is built around four themes. Future-ready logistics will examine how supply chains can respond to disruption, while sustainability sessions will look at reducing emissions across warehousing, transport and last-mile delivery. Digital trade discussions will explore AI, blockchain and business-to-business platforms. Investment and innovation will consider the partnerships and capital needed to develop next-generation trade solutions.
There are practical questions behind the big ideas. How can predictive analytics improve delivery planning? Can robotics make logistics operations more efficient? What happens to investment decisions when insurance costs and price volatility rise? Sessions will also consider the future of Middle East aviation and ways to help startups and SMEs grow within integrated economic zones. The details matter.
Opening keynotes will add a distinctly Dubai perspective. Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi will discuss smart trade policies for integrated economic zones, followed by Dr Mohammed Alzarooni reflecting on how trade hubs have contributed to Dubai’s development over three decades.
For DAFZ, the anniversary is more than a look back. Director General Amna Lootah sees the summit as a space to exchange expertise, explore solutions to supply chain challenges and build partnerships around digital trade, sustainability and investment. The discussions also connect with Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and its ambition to double the emirate’s economy by 2033.
With trade models changing and technology reshaping how goods move, Dubai’s next chapter will depend on the strength of its connections. The Future Growth Nexus Summit offers a closer look at the ideas and people influencing that future. It takes place on 23 November at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira.
