UAE Leads New Term of Universal Postal Union in Switzerland

The United Arab Emirates took part in important meetings of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) held in Bern, Switzerland. These meetings marked the beginning of a new term for both the UPU Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council. The sessions followed the successful 28th Universal Postal Congress, which the UAE proudly hosted in Dubai in September.

The UAE delegation was led by Tariq Al Wahedi, Group CEO of 7X, who also serves as the Chairman of the UPU Council of Administration for the 2026–2029 term. Al Wahedi chaired the council’s first meeting of this new term. This council is the highest supervisory body in the UPU and is responsible for making sure the decisions and policies agreed upon during the Congress are properly implemented. It also approves new processes that support the goals of the UPU’s Dubai Strategy 2026–2029.

During the meeting, members discussed several key topics. These included improving governance systems, ensuring financial reforms, strengthening international postal cooperation, and accelerating digital transformation across all member countries. The meeting also focused on increasing support for developing nations to help them modernise their postal systems. Another major part of the discussions was reviewing how the Dubai Strategy will be put into action to meet the fast-changing needs of the digital economy and global supply chains.

The agenda also included forming committees and technical working groups. These groups will support specialised projects in the coming years. Members also approved new systems for monitoring the performance of the UPU during the upcoming “Dubai Cycle,” ensuring transparency and accountability.

The UAE’s leadership role in the UPU highlights its growing influence in the global postal and logistics sector. It shows the nation’s commitment to building a more advanced, efficient, and sustainable postal network worldwide. This leadership also reflects the UAE’s strong position as an international hub for eCommerce, logistics, and modern digital services.

In addition to the Council of Administration, the UAE also participated in the Postal Operations Council meetings. These sessions focused on the technical and operational side of the global postal system. Discussions covered improved service quality, new settlement models, digital system upgrades, and smoother cross-border eCommerce services.

Tariq Al Wahedi said that the first meeting of the new term marked a fresh chapter in the UPU’s journey. He added that the UAE is committed to promoting innovation, good governance, and sustainability in postal services. He emphasised that the UAE aims to turn the ideas and goals agreed at the Dubai Congress into real action that will strengthen global postal networks and support economic growth.

Al Wahedi also noted that the future of postal services goes beyond delivering letters and parcels. He explained that postal systems will increasingly focus on sharing data and knowledge, and helping communities connect with new opportunities.

The UAE’s role in these UPU meetings demonstrates its ongoing efforts to shape the future of global postal operations. It also reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to digital transformation and innovation in the public sector. This aligns with the national vision “We the UAE 2031,” which aims to position the UAE as a global centre for trade, connectivity, and knowledge exchange.