Seamless Middle East 2026 has added Harshdeep Jolly, Al-Futtaim’s Executive Director of Technology & AI Strategy, to its speaker line-up. The digital-commerce and payments event runs from 22 to 24 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with 20,000 attendees, 800 speakers and 750 exhibitors expected.
Jolly’s slot is a keynote interview on agentic AI, scheduled for 12:20 on day one at the Digital Commerce Arena stage. The organiser has titled it “The reigning success of agentic AI evolution: the living testament to the rich vibrant future of digital commerce”. Kate Hardcastle, broadcaster, adviser and author of The Science of Shopping, moderates.
We’re delighted to announce Harshdeep Jolly, Executive Director – Technology & AI Strategy at Al-Futtaim, as one of our featured speakers. As AI continues to redefine the commerce landscape, Harshdeep will share strategic insights into leveraging technology to drive innovation, operational excellence, and exceptional customer experiences.
Jolly leads how Al-Futtaim applies AI across one of the region’s biggest retail and mobility groups — Toyota dealerships, IKEA, electronics and more — and has partnered with Gartner on the group’s AI transformation. Its deployed bets include the Blue assistant, the Tally shelf-scanning robot and the TAFFI “Amira” stylist, all set out in the group’s AI in GCC Retail white paper.
The interview follows a day-one keynote panel, “Smart commerce for a smart region”, with executives from Danube Online, Al Tayer Insignia, Extra, Landmark Group and The Luxury Closet. Seamless Fintech, Shop Arabia and Home Delivery World ME run alongside in the same halls, under the patronage of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed.
Tickets stay free — exhibition floor, conference theatres, event app and one-to-one meetings are all in the free tier. The optional Premium Networking Pass is priced in dollars: US$3,000 at standard, US$1,600 on the current limited-time offer, roughly AED 11,000 and AED 5,876. It buys the lounges, the speed-networking sessions and the evening functions — networking with intent, as the organiser puts it.
The event lands at a busy moment for UAE payments: Dubai Duty Free now takes crypto at DXB, DIB has put the Jaywan debit card in customers’ wallets, and Lean and Ziina have switched on the country’s first live open-finance payments.
Who is Harshdeep Jolly?
He is Al-Futtaim’s Executive Director of Technology & AI Strategy, leading how the group applies AI across its retail, automotive and electronics businesses. He has also partnered with Gartner on the group’s AI transformation.
How much does Seamless Middle East 2026 cost to attend?
The exhibition and conference are free to register for. The optional Premium Networking Pass is US$3,000 (about AED 11,000), or US$1,600 (about AED 5,876) on the current limited-time offer.
When is Seamless Middle East 2026?
It runs from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 September 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Seamless Fintech, Shop Arabia and Home Delivery World ME take place alongside it in the same venue.
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