Bilateral trade between Dubai and China reached approximately $99 billion, with non-oil trade expanding by 118.4 percent compared to 2016 levels. Chinese direct investment projects in Dubai increased to 91 in 2025, up from 11 in 2021. In regional finance, Qatar's Lesha Bank and ChinaAMC partnered to launch a Shari'a-compliant China equity fund.
China Asset Management (Hong Kong) and Qatar's Lesha Bank have agreed to establish Qatar's first Sharia-compliant China equity fund. The fund could potentially scale up to $1 billion to provide GCC high-net-worth investors direct access to Chinese equities.
The UAE has reduced the authentication fee for work visa police clearance reports from 354 dirhams to 172 dirhams and removed the requirement for visit visas. A proposed rule awaiting official announcement would also bar Nepali and foreign nationals from converting visit visas into work permits while inside the country.
A Singapore-flagged container ship operated by UAE-based Global Feeder Shipping sank in the Strait of Hormuz after catching fire from an attack. All 21 crew members aboard the GFS Pride were safely evacuated without injury. A second vessel operated by the company was also struck and damaged by a projectile.
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