Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
Non-oil trade between Dubai and China reached approximately $99 billion in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 23 percent year-on-year. Chinese foreign direct investment into Dubai expanded from $326.8 million in 2024 to more than $925.8 million in 2025. The data was released by Dubai Chambers at the Dubai Business Forum – China in Shenzhen.
Active Chinese company membership in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reached 6,650 by late September 2026, marking a rise exceeding 200 percent since 2016. Over 3,830 of these entities operate within the trading and services sectors. Dubai Chambers emphasized attracting Chinese manufacturers as a key strategic objective as firms scale up into regional headquarters.
Officials at the Dubai Business Forum – China announced initiatives to integrate Chinese manufacturing and artificial intelligence enterprises into Dubai's economic growth strategy. Bilateral non-oil trade between Dubai and China reached approximately AED 363.5 billion ($99 billion) in 2025, up 118.4 percent since 2016. Dubai aims to transition from a regional distribution hub into a Chinese industrial and co-manufacturing center.
The Dubai Business Forum – China concluded in Shenzhen, bringing together 854 Chinese investors and 112 Dubai delegates. Official figures revealed non-oil bilateral trade expanded by nearly 23% between 2024 and 2025, while Chinese FDI into Dubai rose to over AED 3.4 billion. Dubai Chambers also highlighted initiatives including its Agentic AI transformation programme for private enterprises.
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