The Second Arab Postal Leaders' Forum 2025, organised by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), represented by its Regional Office for the Arab Region, kicked off in Doha Tuesday.
Themed 'Accelerating Innovation in the Parcel Market to Win in the Age of E-Commerce', the event is organised in partnership with Qatar's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), with the participation of representatives from ministries, communications regulatory authorities, and postal leaders across the Arab region.
The two-day forum primarily intends to explore innovative strategies aimed at advancing the postal sector amid the rapid growth of e-commerce, featuring a series of high-level discussions on leveraging rising technologies to enhance postal efficiency, meet customer satisfaction, and combine e-commerce services.
The key sessions will focus on the transition from conventional postal systems to advanced digital platforms and benefiting from data analysis to optimise operational efficiency and utilising artificial intelligence technologies to develop delivery processes, in addition to strategies for enhancing the customer experience through personalised services and flexible delivery options.
In his opening remarks, President of CRA Eng. Ahmed Abdullah al-Muslimani highlighted that the forum is a strategic platform that convenes decision-makers and experts in this sector at the level of the Arab region to deliberate on the future of postal services amid the rapid global realignments.
The striking growth in e-commerce throughout recent years has imposed new dynamics that should be kept pace with through flexible legislation and regulatory frameworks capable of responding swiftly to developments, with particular focus on preserving consumer rights and upgrading the efficiency of services, Eng. al-Muslimani underlined.
He highlighted that CRA is working in lockstep with the private sector to advance an integrated regulatory system for the postal sector in Qatar through invoking innovation and integration that enhance market competitiveness and incentivise investment in infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies.
The postal service has no longer become a mere vehicle for delivery, but rather a deep part of the digital economy system that performs a pivotal role in supporting e-commerce, empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, and connecting communities together, which will ultimately help achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030, highlighted al-Muslimani.
He asserted that leveraging AI technologies and big data analytics would cost-effectively reduce operational costs and upgrade the efficiency of postal networks, emphasising the importance of fostering regional and global partnerships to energise digital transformation efforts.
The Deputy Director General of UPU Marjan Oswald said the forum demonstrates the commitment of the Arab region to digital transformation and advancing postal services commensurate with the requirements of the new global economy.
The radical shift in the performance of the postal sector, in terms of its conventional services and transition to an integrated system, constitutes an essential part of digital economy infrastructure, Oswald explained.
He said the evolution of e-commerce and changes in global consumption patterns behoove postal institutions to keep up with these rapid dynamics through investing in technology, raising the efficiency of delivery networks, and providing ideal and flexible services that meet the needs of individuals and firms alike.
Oswald further explained that UPU is aware of the challenges facing these institutions, especially in the developing countries, and accordingly seeks to support digital transformation through its programmes, in addition to capacity-building and promoting regional integration to ensure evolution and inclusiveness of services without leaving any nation behind.
He hailed the advanced role Arab nations demonstrated in adopting digital solutions and updating their postal services, as well as forging partnerships with the private sector, placing them in an advanced position to cope with the future.
Furthermore, Oswald called on the participants to seize the opportunity of this convention to share best practices and successful experiences and work together to create innovative solutions that help advance this sector and make it a driving force for economic growth, as well as a core component in the digital and social inclusion system.
The event shines a spotlight on the significance of regional co-operation as a key element of success through holding panel discussions and roundtables to share ideas about navigating the shared challenges, in addition to building partnerships that support the region's competitiveness in global markets.
Overall, the forum reviews Arab experiences on AI-powered applications and cutting-edge technologies to optimise postal performance, thereby contributing to affording faster, more efficient, and more reliable services in this dynamic e-commerce environment.
