Malaysia will host the Yalla Commerce Global E-Commerce Summit in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together industry leaders from the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia to strengthen digital trade ties and address challenges facing the global e-commerce sector.
The UAE-born summit series has selected Malaysia as the launch destination for its global expansion, reflecting the country’s growing role in Southeast Asia’s digital commerce ecosystem and its ambition to deepen cross-border digital trade connectivity.
In a statement, Yalla Commerce chief executive officer Arfa Hussain said Malaysia was chosen due to its active and fast-growing e-commerce landscape, supported by strong digital adoption, ambitious founders and expanding regional potential. She added that the summit aims to connect industry leaders across both markets to unlock new opportunities and support businesses navigating a rapidly evolving industry.
The event comes amid mounting pressures on the global e-commerce sector, including rising operating costs, logistics challenges, shifting consumer behaviour and the increasing influence of AI-powered commerce. These factors are reshaping how businesses scale, compete and expand across borders.
The summit, scheduled for August 11, 2026 at Nexus, Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Kuala Lumpur, is expected to host around 1,000 participants including founders, investors, platform operators, logistics players and ecosystem partners from Malaysia, the UAE and the wider region.
Organisers said the programme will focus on practical issues facing e-commerce operators, including cost reduction through AI, customer acquisition strategies, logistics efficiency, cross-border expansion and preparation for investment and scaling.
Following its Kuala Lumpur debut, Yalla Commerce will expand to Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai as part of its broader regional summit series.
