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1/24/25, 3:47 PM UAE Minister of Foreign Trade champions global trade innovation at World Economic Forum in Davos
DAVOS: During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, His
Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, emphasized the
UAE’s leadership in reshaping the future of global trade. Speaking under the theme “Hacking Trade and
Investment”, HE Al Zeyoudi highlighted ways the UAE is leveraging emerging technologies to make

trade smarter, cleaner and more efficient, while also announcing the release of the latest TradeTech
Report.

A key pillar of the UAE’s TradeTech initiative, launched in partnership with the World Economic Forum
(WEF) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to accelerate the adoption

of emerging technologies in global trade systems, the second iteration of the TradeTech Report outlines
how advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming global trade by
increasing efficiency, promoting sustainability, and creating new opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

During the session, HE Al Zeyoudi emphasized the UAE’s vision to leverage technology to create a
seamless, inclusive, and sustainable global trading system, and highlighted several UAE trade

operators who are deploying innovative solutions including AI, robotics and IoT capabilities to address
real-world challenges. He stated, “Trade remains one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth,
innovation, and prosperity. With the right technologies, like AI and blockchain, we can revolutionize

supply chains, reduce barriers to entry, and bring greater transparency and inclusivity to global trade.
The UAE is committed to fostering these advancements and leading the way in creating a smarter, more
resilient global trading ecosystem.”

HE Al Zeyoudi concluded that “trade is evolving and nations like the UAE must seize this opportunity to

shape a new global trading system. By integrating advanced technologies and fostering partnerships
across borders, we can unlock unparalleled opportunities for economic growth, sustainable
development, and shared prosperity.”

HE Al Zeyoudi went on to share findings from the TradeTech Report, revealing that the adoption of AI has

the potential to increase trade in goods and services by up to 13.6% by 2040. However, he said, the
report warns of risks such as “AI divergence,” where uneven adoption could fragment global trade
systems. To counter this, HE Al Zeyoudi called for interoperability, trust-building, and investment in
workforce development and digital infrastructure as critical to maximizing AI’s benefits.

HE Al Zeyoudi also provided updates on the TradeTech Initiative’s TradeTech Accelerator and Sandbox

programs. According to Al Zeyoudi, the TradeTech Accelerator has now onboarded 15 startups
developing solutions such as AI-powered customs automation and blockchain-enabled trade finance
platform, while the TradeTech Sandbox, which provides a collaborative space for businesses and

regulators to test and refine emerging technologies in real-world conditions, is underway. Insights from
the sandbox will be unveiled at the second TradeTech Forum, taking place in Abu Dhabi in April 2025.

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