Shipping risks in the Middle East and rising demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure are reshaping trade finance corridors between the Gulf and China. Bankers report credit facility expansions to cover longer transit times, while IMF leadership warns of persistently elevated energy prices.
Sharjah Department of Government Relations Chairman Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi met with Chinese Consul General Qu Boqian to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. The meeting covered artificial intelligence, data centres, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and research and development.
The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have jointly issued guidelines on developing new quality productive forces. The policy document outlines 19 key measures across five areas of innovation, defining the initiative as an intrinsic requirement for high-quality development. The directive emphasizes innovation-driven growth, local adaptability, and balancing self-reliance with opening up.
Chinese energy storage suppliers disclosed approximately 94GWh in system orders during the third quarter of 2026, with overseas contracts accounting for 93% of signed volumes. Major Middle East deals drove this surge, including an 11.275GWh contract between BYD and the UAE's Masdar as well as a 7.5GWh deal won by Sungrow in the UAE. The Middle East represented 21.3GWh, or 28.7% of total signed capacity, behind Europe's 31.2GWh.
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