The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO) hosted a gala dinner in Dubai on November 9 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of its establishment. The gathering brought together over 350 guests, including representatives from government bodies, Chinese and foreign diplomatic missions, business associations, and the UAE-based Hong Kong community.
Speaking at the event, Dubai ETO Director-General Simon Chan stated that bilateral trade between Hong Kong and the UAE recorded an average annual growth rate of 8.2 percent over the past five years. Chan identified the UAE as Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East and noted that Hong Kong has become one of the fastest-growing markets for the UAE's non-oil exports.
Chan highlighted that both Hong Kong and the UAE serve as premier trade and logistics hubs in their respective regions. He noted that the UAE acts as an important gateway to the Middle East for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong enterprises, while Hong Kong operates as an international platform under the Belt and Road Initiative to connect Middle Eastern partners with Asian and mainland markets.
The Dubai ETO commenced operations in October 2021 to cover the UAE and member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). Prominent attendees included Chinese Ambassador to the UAE Zeng Jixin, Chinese Consul-General in Dubai Ou Boqian, UAE Ministry of Finance Assistant Undersecretary Ali Abdullah Sharafi, and UAE Banks Federation Chairman Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair.
Sources
- Xinhua News Agency · 2026-11-11
