Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
Chery Group reaffirmed its commitment to the FREELANDER brand during a global launch event held at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi. The Chinese automaker showcased the left-hand drive FREELANDER 8 to senior Abu Dhabi government officials and commercial partners. The Middle East serves as the strategic starting point for the brand's international rollout.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak has come under the spotlight as the Manchester City financial breaches controversy impacts UK-UAE relations. Al Mubarak serves as the UAE's presidential special envoy to China, managing director and group CEO of Mubadala, and chairman of City Football Group. Reports indicate that major Emirati investments in the UK could be jeopardised by the ongoing Premier League dispute.
Chinese autonomous driving firms including WeRide, Baidu Apollo Go, and Momenta are accelerating commercial robotaxi deployments across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These rollouts align with Dubai's 25 percent driverless trip target and follow a bilateral MoU signed by the UAE and China to expand cooperation in digital infrastructure, AI, and smart transportation. Official data also shows over 14,500 Chinese business licenses active in the UAE.
The Drewry World Container Index reached $4,434 per 40ft container in early October 2026, marking a roughly 154 percent year-on-year increase. Despite an easing of Red Sea routing and a 68 percent rebound in Suez transits, China-to-Gulf shipping rates remained elevated due to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Ocean carrier Maersk has implemented emergency surcharges, constraining capacity between Chinese ports and Gulf hubs like Jebel Ali.
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