China

China–UAE News

XPENG Launches GCC Grand Xplore Tour Showcasing Kunpeng Range Extender Technology

Chinese automaker XPENG has introduced its Kunpeng Super Range Extender technology to the GCC market through a regional test drive tour of its GX SUV. Announced at a media workshop in Dubai, the Grand Xplore Tour will traverse all six GCC member nations starting and ending in the UAE. The GX model features a 63.3 kWh battery and 60-litre fuel tank, delivering up to 1,585 km of combined CLTC range.

China–UAE News

UAE Retailers Charter Ships and Shift Sourcing to Asia Amid Maritime Disruptions

Food retailers and manufacturers in the UAE are restructuring supply chains and booking dedicated cargo vessels and aircraft amid maritime disruptions linked to regional tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Retail giant Lulu Group International is independently chartering ships from suppliers in China and other Asian markets as sea transit times reach up to 70 days. Local manufacturers like United Foods and Al Ain Farms Group are also building raw material reserves and expanding domestic production.

China–UAE News

Luckin Coffee Appoints Abu Dhabi Mubadala Executive to Board of Directors

Luckin Coffee appointed Philip Yifei Bao of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company to its board on October 8, 2026. The move follows Mubadala's participation alongside Centurium Capital in an investment valued at approximately $1 billion. The Chinese coffee company has reached 100 outlets in Singapore and is evaluating expansion into the Gulf region.

Industry News

China Shifting Energy Mix Alters Projections for Gulf LNG Demand

China's increasing reliance on domestic gas and renewable energy is changing long-term demand for imported LNG, impacting Gulf export projects. Analysts have lowered China's demand growth forecasts by 14 to 22 million tons through the early 2030s. In response, Gulf exporters and Chinese buyers are adjusting long-term contract terms.