The UAE hosts the World Customs Organization Technology Conference and Exhibition for the first time in the Middle East

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chief of the Presidential Cabinet, the United Arab Emirates is hosting the World Customs Organization Technology Conference and Exhibition 2026, which is organized by the organization and hosted by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center “ADNEC” during the period from January 28 to 30.

More than 1,000 representatives of WCO Member States, senior officials and experts from customs administrations and other border agencies, technology providers, representatives of the broader business community, international organizations, development partners, academic institutions and those helping to shape the future of cross-border trade will participate in the conference.

The conference and exhibition, which is held under the slogan “Customs Flexibility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade Through Innovation,” discusses the future of border management and how advanced technologies, data analytics and various partnerships contribute to enhancing border protection, simplifying and accelerating the movement of trade, and shaping the future of customs operations in an increasingly complex commercial and customs environment.

Over three days, the conference provides the opportunity for approximately 80 speakers to present and discuss their visions on how the global customs community can flexibly keep up with change, harness innovation to enhance security and protect borders and supply chains, while advancing trade facilitation efforts.

The sessions of the first day of the conference are scheduled to focus on the theme of “Securing Borders for Safer Trade,” while the sessions of the second day will address the theme of “Facilitating Trade Through Digital Paths,” while on the third day participants will discuss the theme of “Innovation for the Future of Customs.”

A number of local and international companies will participate in the exhibition accompanying the conference, showcasing the latest technologies, digital solutions, innovations and services that the global customs sector can benefit from in developing performance, achieving integration and strengthening customs partnership, in addition to securing supply chains and analyzing data and information in a way that contributes to sound customs decision-making.

Director General of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, said that the UAE is hosting the World Customs Organization Technology Conference and Exhibition for the first time in the Middle East, which reflects the UAE’s leadership in hosting the most prominent global events and activities, and embodies its important role as a strategic partner of the World Customs Organization and its position in shaping the future of the global customs sector.

Suhail Saeed Al Khaili stressed that the importance of the conference and exhibition stems from the importance of the participating entities and the diversity of its participants, including government agencies, the private sector, industrial and technological companies, experts, specialists, and customs decision makers around the world, in addition to the importance of the issues raised on the business agenda.

Suhail Saeed Al Khaili pointed out that the conference will discuss a number of pivotal issues affecting the shaping of the future of customs globally in light of the increasing challenges, and the extent of the customs sector’s ability to secure and facilitate trade in the future by innovating new policies, mechanisms and tools, taking advantage of smart scanners to secure borders, innovating x-rays to enhance the agility of customs and increase their ability to face challenges, in addition to enhancing customs security using cloud technology, innovating digital solutions to facilitate cross-border trade, and supporting confidence in trade through linked data and transferable documents. To verify and promote public-private dialogue on cross-border e-commerce in order to bridge the data gap and build flexible and agile customs in a complex world.

Acting Director General of Customs and Port Security at the Authority, Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahej Al Falasi, explained that the conference brings together a diverse and distinguished elite of government officials in the customs sector, representatives of the private sector and technology providers in a major step that will contribute to shaping the future of global customs work, and represents a great opportunity for dialogue on the most prominent challenges facing customs administrations while providing the opportunity to exchange experiences and visions on how to confront them and the solutions proposed to develop customs performance.

He added that the conference includes organizing many accompanying regional activities and meetings, and providing the opportunity for the private sector and companies participating in the exhibition to showcase the latest technologies in the customs field regionally and globally, and learn about the most prominent innovative customs projects and smart solutions, as well as interactive dialogues between customs leaders and practitioners about the emerging challenges and opportunities in the use of advanced technologies in customs work, reviewing case studies and demonstrations that provide practical solutions from various parts of the world, and providing broad opportunities for communication and building relationships with partners, experts, and solution providers.