UAE Chosen to Drive New UPU Strategy and Leads Governance

Dubai will serve as the central stage for a sweeping transformation of global postal services after the electing of the United Arab Emirates to the chairmanship of the Universal Postal Union’s Council of Administration for the 2026–2029 term. Member states approved the “Dubai Strategy” at the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in Dubai. The UAE has also secured a seat in the UPU’s Postal Operations Council, signalling its elevated influence in setting technical standards.

The “Dubai Strategy” lays out priorities for the UPU’s work through 2029, built around enhancing global postal access, embedding regulatory stability, pushing forward digital innovation, and aligning postal operations with sustainability goals. The Dubai Business Plan, to be overseen by the UAE in its chair role, will translate strategy into measurable goals. Key performance indicators include increasing the number of states with postal regulatory frameworks, improving end-to-end delivery quality, expanding access points, and boosting operational revenues.

Masahiko Metoki of Japan was re-elected Director General, and Marjan Osvald of Slovenia returned as Deputy Director General for another term. Their leadership has been credited with guiding the UPU through increasing digitalisation and growth in e-commerce, sectors which the new strategy emphasises heavily.

Member states engaged in extensive consultations—over 2,200 participants from all 192 UPU member countries plus public and private sector bodies—to shape the Dubai Strategy. The consensus underscores a shared recognition that postal services are no longer just about letters and parcels, but integral to global trade, financial inclusion, and communication networks in a digital age.

Under the UAE’s chairmanship, the Council of Administration will be responsible for managing legal, governance, and administrative matters of the Union; the Postal Operations Council will handle technical and operational policies. The UAE obtained 144 votes to be elected among the 48 states in the POC in the current cycle.

India achieved re-election to both the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council, bolstering South Asia’s voice in postal governance. Its track record in digital addressing, e-commerce facilitation, cross-border remittances, and capacity building was cited among reasons for confidence from other UPU members.

One of the strategy’s more ambitious components involves modernising cross-border postal supply chains, strengthening regulatory frameworks aligned with UPU standards, and fostering innovation in services—particularly those that serve smaller or remote communities. Members also committed to boosting cooperation at regional level through technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, and integrating postal sectors into broader national development plans.