Dubai CommerCity (DCC), the first free zone in the region dedicated to digital commerce, has announced strategic partnerships with qeen.ai and Portmind. These collaborations aim to boost e-commerce growth in the UAE by leveraging advanced AI solutions. DCC is a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties.

The partnerships were unveiled during Dubai AI Week, held from April 21 to April 25, 2025, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister. The collaboration with qeen.ai will integrate DCC’s digital commerce infrastructure with qeen.ai’s AI capabilities, creating a future-focused ecosystem that supports e-commerce businesses.

According to Gulf Today, Mitch Bittermann, Senior Vice President – Commercial at Dubai CommerCity, said that the partnership reflects DCC’s commitment to aligning with Dubai’s vision of becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence. He noted that integrating intelligent automation and AI solutions will enhance the competitiveness of e-commerce businesses and contribute to a thriving AI-driven economy.

Dina Alsamhan, Co-founder & CBO of qeen.ai, said that this partnership is a strategic move for advancing the UAE’s digital commerce infrastructure. She stated that qeen.ai provides the intelligence necessary for SMEs to automate and optimize their operations, allowing them to scale efficiently in a competitive global market.

In addition, the integration of Portmind’s AI-powered Sail platform will improve the customs process for businesses within Dubai CommerCity. This technology aims to streamline shipping and customs documentation by automating data collection, validation, and compliance, ultimately leading to faster customs clearance and reduced operational overhead.

Abdulrahman Shaheen, Senior Vice President of Operations at Dubai CommerCity, remarked that the partnership with Portmind is aimed at creating a smarter and more agile business environment. He noted that it aligns with the objectives of Dubai AI Week, which focuses on accelerating the development of transformative technologies for societal and economic benefits.

Julien Gurunlian, Founder and CEO of Portmind, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that their Sail platform is designed to enhance trade transparency and reduce inefficiencies in international trade. He affirmed that this partnership would enable smarter customs workflows that benefit businesses across the DCC ecosystem.

With the UAE’s e-commerce market projected to exceed Dhs48.8 billion by 2028, these partnerships support the national initiative to strengthen the digital economy and position Dubai as a leading hub for next-generation trade and technology. They align with the UAE’s strategic vision for economic diversification and digital transformation, furthering Dubai CommerCity’s goal of becoming an innovative and agile free zone.

In December 2024, Dubai CommerCity had also signed a memorandum of understanding with Aramex and QuikBot Technologies to trial QuikBot’s Autonomous Final-Mile Delivery Platform-as-a-service at DCC.