- WCO’s flagship annual event explores how technology and innovation can strengthen Customs’ ability to respond to evolving risks while enabling more seamless and efficient cross-border trade.
- Held under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation.”
- The event has drawn over 1,500 participants from more than 100 countries, including representatives from Customs administrations, international organizations and the private sector.
The 2026 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition was officially opened today in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with participants gathering across three days to put the spotlight on smart solutions and technological innovations, foster dialogue and cooperation. A key objective is to enhance Customs’ agility to deliver practical, scalable solutions that will have a real and positive impact on Customs operations and lead to more resilient and secure supply chains.
The Conference was officially opened by WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, who highlighted the importance of agility, trusted partnerships and modern standards in safeguarding Customs’ capacity to secure borders, facilitating legitimate trade and protecting society. Keynote speeches from His Excellency Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi – Chairman of the Federal Authority of Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, United Arab Emirates and His Excellency Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahij Al Falasi, Director General of Customs and Port Security were heard by a packed audience.
Running in parallel and with over 60 stands, the Exhibition showcases cutting-edge solutions supporting Customs modernization, including innovations in non-intrusive inspection, data analytics, automation, interoperability, digital trade ecosystems and cybersecurity. High-level delegates also had an opportunity to visit the exhibition and learn about key technology innovations. The event is hosted by the United Arab Emirates and organized in close partnership with private sector stakeholders supporting the WCO’s long-standing commitment to constructive public–private collaboration.
Day 1 – Securing Borders for Safer Trade
Each day of the WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition is dedicated to a specific theme, with day one of the event focusing on securing borders for safer trade. Discussions on-stage and off focused on new and emerging technologies for effective enforcement including the newest generation of smart X-ray scanning systems, AI-supported risk management, cloud solutions, and advanced data analytics in support of operational agility and real-time decision-making.
One of the highlights of the opening day was a high-level round table, titled“Setting the Scene: Customs Agility in a Complex World, Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation.”Moderated by the WCO Secretary General, the session featured contributions from:
- Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and WCO Council Chairperson;
- Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General, Abu Dhabi Customs, United Arab Emirates;
- Marion Jansen, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and
- Pierre-Antoine Champin, Principal Data Strategist, World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The discussion focused on the growing complexity of global commerce and the need for Customs administrations to strengthen resilience by leveraging data-driven cooperation, modern standards and emerging technologies, and the need for resilient and secure global supply chains.