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.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security outlined mandatory nomination letter procedures for UAE Golden Visa applicants on October 15, 2026. Applicants in most categories, including investors and entrepreneurs, must obtain an endorsement before visa processing. The preliminary online application via the ICP platform incurs an AED 150 statutory fee.
Dubai Municipality has issued enforcement guidelines under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2026 regulating shared residential accommodation across the emirate. Landlords and property managers have until September 2027 to comply with rules that restrict unauthorized partitions, mandate minimum floor space, and require occupant registration in more than 44 designated areas.
UAE Presidential Special Envoy Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak held bilateral talks in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to evaluate commercial and economic cooperation initiatives. The meeting follows data released by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed showing Dubai-China non-oil trade reached AED 363.5 billion in 2025. Dubai Chambers is also preparing to dispatch its largest business delegation to Shenzhen under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
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