Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in cooperation with UNCITRAL, to organize landmark event on December 8-9, 2025

• First global digital trade & digital platforms summit to be held in Dubai

• Summit to leverage UAE’s pioneering experience in developing digital trade law as part of a global initiative to formulate a new model legislation

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced that it will host the first edition of the Global Summit on Digital Trade and Digital Platforms in cooperation with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), on December 8-9, 2025, in Dubai. The event aims to leverage the benefits of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on Trading by Modern Technological Means, drawing on the UAE’s pioneering experience in developing this law as part of a global initiative to formulate a new model legislation for digital trade and platforms.

The Global Summit is being organized following the UAE’s submission of a proposal to UNCITRAL to adopt its law as a legislative model - an initiative that received broad support from numerous member states, with Spain formally joining the proposal. The UAE has established global leadership as the first country to enact dedicated legislation governing trade conducted through modern technological means, including digital trade and digital platforms.

The forum is expected to draw wide international participation, with attendance from over 15 international institutions, technical teams, and global universities specializing in digital commerce and platforms. Participants will represent a diverse spectrum of government entities and international organizations concerned with trade and digital legislation, alongside a selection of legal experts and private-sector innovators.

The event will also bring together senior executives from leading global digital platforms and technology companies, serving as an integrated interactive space for policymakers, practitioners, and experts. Participating organizations include the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the European Law Institute, alongside specialized e-commerce technical teams from countries such as Spain, China, Mexico, Singapore, and Thailand, among others.

The diversity of attendees will create a unique platform for exchanging views and expertise, exploring the international best practices, and building global consensus on the future of economic legislation governing trade amid the growing use of modern technology in this vital sector. The forum also provides an opportunity to strengthen strategic partnerships between governments and the private sector, supporting efforts to develop an international legal framework that meets the requirements of the rapidly evolving digital economy.

The summit will host diverse panel discussions on regional and global mechanisms for governing digital platforms, ways to advance digital commerce and platforms, growth opportunities in sectors like FinTech, data, and advanced solutions, and addressing related challenges. It will also showcase the latest technological innovations supporting digital economic development, the rapid transformations within the digital economy, and their role in shaping value chains and facilitating the cross-border flow of data and services.

Furthermore, during this exploratory phase, the summit will focus on the qualitative transformation of digital platforms as they move beyond their limited role as intermediaries during the “e-commerce” phase to the comprehensive role of digital platforms, which are now integral to business completion, particularly in the services sector. This includes consultancy services, music, arts, films, and other commercial services that both originate and conclude through digital platforms.

UNCITRAL is the core legal body within the United Nations ecosystem in the field of international trade law. It specializes in issuing model laws globally and plays a central role in developing and maintaining robust legal frameworks that transcend national borders to facilitate international trade and investment. The Commission boasts a global membership of specialists in developing commercial law worldwide, finding qualitative solutions, and modernizing and harmonizing rules related to international commercial business.