Symposium on Port Logistics and Infrastructure 2026

The Symposium on Port Logistics and Infrastructure 2026 is a free, two-hour morning briefing in Dubai on Tuesday 17 November, organised by the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK UAE). It runs from 9:30am to 11:30am at Pullman Hotel Downtown on Marasi Drive in Business Bay, and brings together industry representatives, decision-makers and experts from Germany and the UAE to look at where ports, logistics and the infrastructure behind them are heading.

What the morning covers

AHK frames the symposium around three linked questions: what the current developments are in port logistics and infrastructure, what challenges companies are facing, and where the business opportunities lie. For the UAE, where ports, free zones and logistics corridors are central to the economy, those questions touch everything from terminal operations and shipping routes to the roads, rail and industrial zones that connect a port to its customers.

The angle that makes this session distinct is the bilateral one. Germany is a major exporter of engineering, machinery and logistics technology, while the UAE has built itself into a regional trade and re-export hub. The symposium is designed for people who work across that relationship, whether they are German firms supplying the region or UAE companies working with German partners.

Speakers and programme

At the time of writing, AHK has not yet published the speaker line-up or a detailed running order. The organiser’s event page states that programme and speaker information will follow shortly, so it is worth checking back there in the days before the symposium. What is confirmed is the compact format: a single two-hour slot on a weekday morning, which makes it easy to fit around a working day in Business Bay or Downtown.

Who the symposium is for

The invitation is addressed to AHK members and friends of the chamber. Based on the topics, it is most relevant to:

• port and terminal operators, and the teams that plan and run them
• freight forwarders, shipping lines and supply chain managers
• infrastructure developers, contractors and engineering consultancies
• German companies exploring the UAE logistics market, and UAE firms sourcing German technology
• trade, investment and policy specialists who follow the sector

Because the audience is drawn from both countries, the networking either side of the talks is a large part of the value.

About the organiser

AHK UAE is the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce, part of the worldwide network of German chambers of commerce abroad. Its service arm, DEinternational, supports companies with market entry and business development, and the event contact listed for this symposium sits within that team. The partner logos shown on the AHK website include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and Germany Trade & Invest, which reflects the chamber’s role as an official bridge between the two economies.

How to attend

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Sign up through the registration link on the official AHK UAE event page. Questions about the symposium can go to Markus Brandt, Head of Business Development and Market Entry at DEinternational Dubai, via the contact details listed on that page, or to the AHK UAE general enquiries line.

Pullman Dubai Downtown sits on Marasi Drive in Business Bay, and the 9:30am start means the session wraps up before midday, leaving the rest of the working day free.

Browse more business and networking events in the UAE, see the organiser’s profile on our AHK UAE page, look ahead to the RAK Energy Summit 2026, or explore things to do in Dubai this November.