Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) and Forbes Middle East will host the inaugural Future Growth Nexus Summit on November 23 at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), bringing together 27 speakers, including senior government officials, global business leaders, investors, and industry experts to examine the future of international trade, supply chains, and logistics.
Coinciding with DAFZ’s 30th anniversary, the summit will address the transformations reshaping global commerce, with discussions covering the role of artificial intelligence, technology, sustainability, and economic policies in strengthening business competitiveness, expanding cross-border trade, and attracting international investment.
The 27 speakers include His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ; and Amna Rashid Lootah, Director General of DAFZ. They will be joined by senior executives from leading international companies, including Aziz Koleilat, President and CEO of GE Aerospace for the Middle East, Türkiye and the Commonwealth of Independent States; Lisa Park, Area Managing Director for the UAE at A.P. Moller–Maersk; Nabil Sultan, Group CEO of dnata; and Amadou Diallo, Group CEO of Aramex. Representatives from DHL Supply Chain, FedEx, Airbus, Thales, Mercantile Pacific Group, Tradeling, and the World Free Zones Organization will also participate.
Amna Lootah said DAFZ had spent the past three decades developing an integrated business environment that meets investors’ needs, facilitates international trade, and supports companies expanding into new markets. She added that the free zone is building on this legacy by enhancing its services, strengthening its competitiveness, and leveraging technology and innovation to respond to changes in global trade and logistics, reinforcing Dubai’s foreign trade connections and supporting the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to double the emirate’s economy by 2033.
She noted that the summit will provide a platform for government officials, business leaders, and experts to exchange knowledge, explore solutions to supply-chain challenges, and identify opportunities in digital trade, sustainability, and high-value investments, with the aim of developing partnerships that support business growth and improve trade efficiency.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said the summit would bring decision-makers, business leaders, and innovators together for practical discussions connecting technology, capital, and policy, while creating opportunities for partnerships and ideas that contribute to a more connected, resilient, and sustainable global trade ecosystem.
The summit’s programme will focus on four main themes: future-ready logistics and supply-chain resilience; sustainability and the transition towards net-zero trade; the digital transformation of international commerce through platforms, artificial intelligence, and blockchain; and the role of investment and innovation in advancing trade and logistics.
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi will deliver the opening keynote, titled “Smart Trade Policies for Integrated Economic Zones,” examining how harmonised regulatory frameworks, streamlined procedures, and improved incentives can accelerate cross-border trade and attract global investment. Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni will follow with a keynote titled “Three Decades of Transformation: Trade Hubs That Accelerated Dubai,” highlighting DAFZ’s contribution to establishing the emirate as a global centre for trade, logistics, and investment.
Other sessions will explore the development of resilient and sustainable supply chains, the future of aviation in the Middle East, and strategies for reducing emissions across warehousing, transportation, and last-mile delivery. Discussions will also examine the growing role of digital marketplaces and B2B e-commerce platforms, alongside applications of artificial intelligence, robotics, and predictive analytics in improving logistics operations and efficiency.
Investment and risk management will form another part of the programme, with participants examining how partnerships can support next-generation trade solutions and how insurance costs, market risks, and price volatility influence trade flows and investment decisions. The discussions will also address opportunities to support small and medium-sized enterprises and startups operating within integrated economic zones.
Marking three decades of operations, the summit will also spotlight DAFZ’s achievements and its vision for the next phase of growth amid ongoing transformations in global trade. As part of DIEZ, DAFZ continues to develop an integrated business environment connecting international markets, supporting the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for trade, logistics, and investment.
Through the Future Growth Nexus Summit, DAFZ and Forbes Middle East aim to bring policymakers, industry leaders, and investors together to develop practical approaches to the next generation of global trade, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and advance Dubai’s position as a global hub for smart and sustainable commerce.
