Dubai Economy Chief Presents Post-Disruption Recovery to Chinese Investors in Shenzhen

Dubai’s population and spending have surpassed pre-crisis levels as the emirate rebounds from regional disruption, according to Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation. Speaking at the Dubai Business Forum – China in Shenzhen on October 14, 2026, Badri credited government coordination and long-term investments in essential services and infrastructure with sustaining confidence and driving economic resilience.

Badri told Chinese investors and executives that Dubai’s expansion is anchored in its ability to attract residents, companies, and capital, supported by public infrastructure and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which targets doubling the size of the emirate's economy by 2033. He cited population growth as a vital engine for domestic demand across housing, education, and services, comparing the city's trajectory to global business hubs such as Singapore.

According to data presented by Dubai Chambers at the forum, Dubai ranked first globally for greenfield foreign direct investment projects for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, attracting 1,253 projects. Badri noted that inbound capital encompasses both new business setups and acquisitions of existing commercial entities.

Financial market expansion and resident inflows also formed central components of the presentation. Dubai Financial Market drew 97,394 new investors in 2025, with foreign nationals comprising 84 percent of the additions, expanding its total investor base to 1.25 million. Furthermore, Dubai retained a top-10 position globally and ranked first in the Middle East and Africa in the September 2026 Global Financial Centres Index compiled by Z/Yen and the China Development Institute.

Highlighting other domestic indicators, Badri referenced the emirate's private education sector, which registered an annual growth rate of 4.6 percent across early childhood education, schools, and higher education over the preceding three academic years, according to Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority. Badri also characterized incoming tourists as a feeder pipeline for prospective long-term residents and business founders.