Ahmad Bin Sulayem, CEO of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, said global trade is shifting from a rules-based system toward individual deals.
This transition reflects a broader geopolitical realignment where traditional trade frameworks are being replaced by bilateral agreements and strategic partnerships. As uncertainty grows, Dubai is positioning itself to capture these new flows by diversifying its financial instruments and infrastructure.
Bin Sulayem said the global trading system has been ripped up and recast as a web of individual deals [1]. This shift coincides with a significant rise in South-South trade, which has seen growth of 35% [2]. Such trends have contributed to the UAE maintaining second place in the 2026 Commodity Trade Index [2].
To adapt to these dynamics, the DMCC is focusing on technological integration and speed of settlement. The organization is exploring the tokenization of assets to modernize how commodities are traded and tracked [3]. These initiatives aim to reduce friction in a market increasingly defined by rapid shifts in geopolitical loyalty.
Liquidity and speed remain central to the city's strategy. On Monday, June 24, 2026, the Dubai exchange launched a same-day gold settlement contract [4]. This product is designed to target safe-haven flows, allowing investors to move capital into gold with minimal delay during periods of volatility [4].
Bin Sulayem said these strategies are essential for Dubai to maintain its competitive edge as a global commodity hub. By combining digital innovation with traditional safe-haven assets, the UAE intends to serve as a neutral bridge between diverging economic blocs [1], [2].
“The global trading system has been ripped up and recast as a web of individual deals.”
The shift toward 'deal-based' trade suggests a decline in the influence of multilateral trade organizations and a rise in fragmented, bilateral economic diplomacy. By implementing high-speed settlement tools and blockchain-based tokenization, Dubai is attempting to decouple its commodity markets from the volatility of Western-centric financial rules, instead leveraging its geography to facilitate trade between emerging economies in the Global South.
