GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang met on October 25, 2026, in Doha. The officials assessed progress by technical working groups negotiating the GCC-China Free Trade Agreement. Both sides stressed overcoming remaining trade obstacles to accelerate the formal signing of the deal.
HSBC plans to open a new wealth management centre in Abu Dhabi in December 2026 as part of its ongoing Gulf expansion. The move supports increasing cross-border capital flows from Middle Eastern high-net-worth clients into Asian hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore. An HSBC survey also found that 97% of institutional investors across 16 markets view the UAE as an attractive investment destination.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi met with China's Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang on October 25, 2026, in Doha. The officials reviewed bilateral economic ties and assessed progress made by negotiating groups on the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement. Both sides emphasized resolving outstanding obstacles to conclude the agreement and enhance trade and investment flows.
Affluent global travellers, particularly from China, are shifting away from traditional luxury tourism toward highly personalised, experience-led journeys across the Middle East. According to Xing Zhang, founder of Connect, destinations that offer culture, cuisine, wellness, and nature alongside high-end accommodations stand to gain the most. Abu Dhabi was specifically highlighted for its ability to combine premium hospitality with local cultural and natural assets.
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