Foreword Jasem Al Awadhi Acting Director-General of Economic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) Maryam Alloz Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Foreign Trade, United Arab EmiratesAdvancing Digital Trade: Insights from the UAE TradeTech Regulatory SandboxSeptember 2025 Tim Stekkinger Head, TradeTech Global Initiative, World Economic ForumGlobal trade stands at the threshold of a new era. Emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping the movement of goods, services and capital across borders, unlocking opportunities to make trade more inclusive, efficient and resilient. Yet the full promise of digital trade will be realized only when bold innovation is matched by agile, forward- thinking regulation. The TradeTech Regulatory Sandbox marks a pioneering step on this journey. Jointly led by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the World Economic Forum, this initiative convened start-ups, regulators and partners from the public and private sectors to test breakthrough technologies – including AI, blockchain, tokenized finance and stablecoins – in a real-world trade environment. The UAE – well-known for its proactive approach and frameworks that strike the right balance between fostering innovation and maintaining robust regulatory oversight to ensure stability, protection of stakeholders’ interests and mitigation of systemic risks – was chosen as the dynamic hub for this endeavour. Over the course of several months, eight innovative companies collaborated closely with four UAE regulators to address long-standing frictions in global trade. The results demonstrated that when innovation is met with regulatory openness, remarkable efficiency gains can be achieved – from faster documentation and real-time settlements to expanded access to trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, the initiative highlighted critical areas where regulatory clarity, legal harmonization and robust risk-sharing mechanisms should be considered essential to unlocking broader impact. This white paper distils the key lessons and policy recommendations emerging from the sandbox experience. It is designed to inform regulators, innovators and global trade leaders navigating similar challenges around the world. More broadly, it illustrates how public–private collaboration can drive not only the adoption of new technologies but also the evolution of smarter, more adaptive regulation. We extend our sincere gratitude to all participating companies, regulators and partners who made this initiative possible. The path to digital trade is complex, but with collaboration, transparency and a shared commitment to modernization, a more dynamic and inclusive global trading system is within reach. Advancing Digital Trade: Insights from the UAE TradeTech Regulatory Sandbox 3

Advancing Digital Trade 2025