Emirati and Chinese government delegations met in Beijing on October 22, 2026, to coordinate China's 15th Five-Year Plan with the 'We the UAE 2031' strategic growth initiative. The UAE delegation was led by Faisal Alkaabi, Acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, who met with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Discussions focused on expanding trade and cross-border investments following a record bilateral non-oil trade volume of $110 billion in 2025. Both sides identified smart manufacturing, clean energy, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and trade logistics corridors as primary sectors for joint ventures.
The strategic alignment coincides with a sharp rise in Gulf sovereign wealth fund allocations into mainland China and Hong Kong. Data from Singapore consultancy Global SWF showed that Gulf funds deployed $14.2 billion during the first nine months of 2026, marking an increase of nearly 190% compared to $4.9 billion across all of 2025. Middle Eastern institutions accounted for almost 70% of sovereign capital invested in China and Hong Kong during this timeframe.
Among the contributing funds, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund allocated $6 billion, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority deployed $2.5 billion, Mubadala Investment Company contributed $800 million, and the Qatar Investment Authority invested $600 million. Investments were heavily focused on robotics, technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and domestic consumer sectors.
In related developments, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, concluded a six-day official visit to Guangdong and Fujian provinces. The trip resulted in cooperation agreements with Chinese companies, including partnerships on humanoid robotics with UBTECH Robotics and smart transportation with the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center.
Sources
- UECN · 2026-10-24
