Dubai is set to turn into an epicentre of the latest payment, retail, ecommerce, and financial technology, with over 350 exhibitors and expert speakers from across the globe flocking to this years much-awaited Seamless Middle East event on April 15 and 16, 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
To be held under the patronage of HH Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Middle East’s biggest and most important exhibition for payments, fintech, ecommerce and retail is back for the 19th year to pave the way for seamless transactions and experiences for not only the hundreds of attending companies but also the wider business community.
Joseph Ridley, general manager of Seamless Middle East at Terrapinn, commented: The Middle East region is going through an exciting phase, with the UAE claiming 15th rank in the Euromonitor Internationals Digital Consumer Index 2017 and highest among emerging markets, underlining the governments commitment to transforming the society and the industries digitally and seamlessly for the future.”
While Saudi Arabia is also joining the force by claiming a place among the top five emerging markets, he added, it further shows that the region is fast turning into a hotbed for the latest innovations and evolutions in the field of fintech, blockchain, ecommerce and payment solutions.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), for instance, is expected to be a major game changer in the global economy, with PwC estimating that AI will contribute up to $15.7tn to the world economy and $320mn to the Middle East economy in 2030.
The spending on cognitive and AI systems in the Middle East and Africa region is estimated to grow from $37.5mn in 2017 to over $100mn by 2021, representing a growth rate of 32% a year, adds PwC citing analysis of the International Data Corporation (IDC).
This years exhibition will see more than 350 exhibitors participating from across the globe to showcase wide range of innovative products and solutions from mobile payments, analytics, inventory management and POS, self-service and ATMs to digital marketing with omni-channel retailing, blockchain and AI.
With over 10,000 industry professionals and tech enthusiasts, the event will not only acquaint the attendees with whats new across the globe, but also instigate them to think beyond the obvious and prepare for the future, with a series of thought-provoking keynotes and panels that the top technocrats, disruptors, innovators, and thinkers are going to make over the course of two days, revealed Ridley.
This years on-floor demo theatres with 60 free sessions will offer insight into various issues that a company faces while taking its business online. Visitors will get the opportunity to attend the Ecommerce University for a day-long programme, which has been developed to help build, launch and grow a profitable ecommerce business, he says, adding that the event will also help understand how to create a digital marketing strategy, manage logistics, or develop digital payment and increase customer conversion.
Ridley adds that no matter how big or small the business challenges might be, this power-packed show promises to offer solutions for everything, coupled with a number of live attractions, demonstrations and launches that will help understand what is shaping the future of finance and ecommerce.
The conferences will cover a wide range of topics under various themes including payments and fintech, retail and ecommerce, automation and AI, blockchain, mobile payments and wallets, digital ID, Mall of Tomorrow, omni channel and delivery and fulfilment.
The event is supported by its title sponsor Dubai CommerCity, a joint venture between the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) and the Wasl Asset Management Group. The region’s first 2.1-million square feet ecommerce free zone has been developed to promote Dubai as a regional hub for e-commerce and support its economic diversification process.
The participation of Dubai CommerCity is an important strategic step which shows its key role in supporting Dubai’s global position as an ideal destination for global e-commerce. Seamless Middle East 2018 is a key attraction for leading global e-commerce companies and we believe that the event will showcase the opportunities within the sector, said Amna Lootah, assistant director general Finance, Commercial & Customer Relations Division of DAFZA Innovation & Future Unit.
She highlighted the importance of this strategic exhibition as it coincides with the objectives of Dubai CommerCity, which are based on attracting investments in specialised e-commerce, retail and smart payment solutions.