Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman in Beijing to advance bilateral and regional economic ties. Premier Li called for accelerating negotiations to reach an early conclusion of the China-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade agreement. Discussions also covered strategic alignment across oil, gas, clean energy, and advanced technology sectors.
Chinese state and commercial lenders have grown into anchor debt financiers for major Gulf energy and infrastructure utilities, according to EnterpriseAM. Regional entities including ACWA Power, Aramco, and ADNOC are utilizing Chinese loan syndications alongside Western and regional institutions. Notable deals include a $5.9 billion renewable energy package and a 1.8 billion yuan facility for a UAE emirate.
Mannesmann Energy is advancing an agreement with ADNOC to upgrade existing facilities and increase capacity across its NEB CPP assets. The UAE-based company also plans to sign memoranda of understanding to become the exclusive local representative for Chinese equipment maker JINGBO and international tubular supplier PETROTEX Group. The partnerships were disclosed during ADIPEC 2026 by Chief Executive Officer Anas Aljuaidi.
The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority registered 3,538 investment projects valued at USD 68.6 billion between 2021 and 2026. China ranked as the top foreign direct investment source with USD 14.1 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates with USD 5.039 billion. Manufacturing and transport led project registrations across the five-year period.
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