Crude oil shipping costs on the TD3C route from the Arabian Gulf to China rose by 406% to reach $229.76 per metric ton at the end of September. The sharp increase in VLCC tanker rates has forced regional crude producers to deepen price discounts to remain competitive in Asian markets. Saudi Arabia reduced its official selling price for Arab Light crude by $3 per barrel for November.
Chinese direct investment in the UAE surpassed $12 billion in 2025 as tech firms like Alibaba Cloud expanded data center and AI services. Meanwhile, U.S. policies conditioning access to advanced AI chips on the removal of Chinese core network hardware require Gulf states to navigate conflicting technological relationships. In the UAE, active Chinese technology projects grew to 81 under the Digital Silk Road framework.
China Eleventh Chemical Construction Company has secured two civil works and site facility packages for the 890MW Duqm power project in Oman. The $910 million combined-cycle gas turbine development is being built by a consortium that includes UAE-based Etihad Water and Electricity. Commercial operations at the Special Economic Zone at Duqm are scheduled to begin in 2029.
China's outbound direct investment into the UAE reached $2.6 billion, more than tripling from the prior reporting year. Cumulative Chinese FDI stock in the Emirates rose to $12.47 billion, alongside bilateral non-oil trade surpassing $100 billion. The influx comes as Chinese enterprises, including China Securities, JINGDONG Property, and Momenta, expand operations in the UAE.
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