The UPU Congress in Dubai: Decisions Redefining the Future of the Global Postal Service
The 28th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress concluded on September 19 with the Vatican Delegation in attendance. The delegation was led by Antonino Intersimone, Director of the Directorate of Telecommunications and Information Services, accompanied by Fr. Felice Bruno F.D.P., head of the Vatican Postal and Philatelic Service, and Vincenzo Marrese.
One of the central outcomes of the Congress was the approval of the new four-year strategy for the period 2026–2029, known as the Dubai Strategy, along with its corresponding operational plan, the Dubai Business Plan.
These documents will guide the UPU’s future actions around three main strategic objectives: strengthening the single postal territory by enhancing a multilateral system; innovating and transforming postal services through greater digitalization, customer-centric models and improved service quality; developing regional cooperation, with particular attention to developing countries, to ensure that no one is left behind in the new global postal landscape.
The Congress also reconfirmed the two top leadership positions: Director General Masahiko Metoki (Japan) and Deputy Director General Marjan Osvald (Slovenia). The re-election of the UPU Director General took place by acclamation. Their second term will begin on January 1, 2026, and end on December 31, 2029.
In addition, the two main bodies were renewed: the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council.
The decisions taken in Dubai will need to be transform into concrete actions in the coming years. Some of the main challenges include: updating international postal regulations to modern standards (for example, regarding exchanges and tariffs); balancing the competitive pressure of private couriers (especially in e-commerce) with the role of traditional postal operators; ensuring that countries with fewer resources can implement innovations, particularly in digital and infrastructure development; monitoring and verifying commitments on sustainability and inclusivity, to prevent them from remaining only on paper.
The UPU Congress in Dubai marks a turning point for the global postal sector - no longer just the transport of letters and parcels but a complex ecosystem encompassing digital services, logistics, finance, and sustainability. The Dubai Strategy sets out an ambitious yet realistic roadmap for the next four years.
The participation of the Vatican Delegation made it possible to represent national needs in a multilateral context and to contribute to shaping global postal policies for the future.
