Yalla Commerce 2026 officially opened yesterday at the MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre (MECC), uniting founders, brand owners, e-commerce operators, government-linked ecosystem organisations, and industry partners from Malaysia, the UAE, and the wider region.
Held on 22–23 September, the summit is anchored around a single practical objective: equipping businesses with the insights and connections needed to expand beyond their home markets, with a strong emphasis on deepening commercial ties between the GCC and ASEAN.
The programme consolidates key segments of the cross-border commerce infrastructure under one roof, encompassing marketplaces, logistics, payments, technology, warehousing and fulfilment, business setup, retail, distribution, and international expansion. Participating organisations and industry names include Dubai Chambers, Dubai CommerCity, MATRADE, MDEC, Alibaba, FedEx, Razorpay Curlec, and Pos Malaysia.
Over the two-day event, founders and operators will engage in keynotes, panel discussions, and masterclasses addressing UAE market entry, marketplace growth, logistics and fulfilment, payments, quick commerce, artificial intelligence, brand expansion, investor readiness, and the practical realities of scaling a consumer business globally.
“I saw firsthand how difficult it is for businesses to enter a new market without the right network. The summit is designed to bring that network within reach, so founders and brands can meet the people who can actually help them expand.”
— Arfa Hussain, Founder & CEO, Yalla Commerce
The summit follows the private Yalla Commerce VIP Connect Gala, held on 21 September in Kuala Lumpur, which gathered senior guests, speakers, partners, and business leaders ahead of the main two-day programme.
For Malaysian online sellers, marketplace merchants, DTC brands, retailers, and consumer businesses, the Kuala Lumpur edition offers direct access to practical UAE and GCC market knowledge and relationships.
