Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala led GCC sovereign wealth funds in the first nine months of 2026, deploying $26.2 billion globally. China, including Hong Kong, emerged as the second-largest international destination for Gulf sovereign capital, attracting 10% of total invested funds.
A survey of 100 institutional investors managing $513 billion found that 56% expect the US and China to jointly lead global AI within five years. Conducted by Pureprofile for Robocap across eight markets including the UAE and China, the report notes closing gaps in patents, research graduates, and applied robotics. All surveyed investors also projected that the UAE and Saudi Arabia will make significant progress toward becoming global AI hubs.
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced the opening of 26 new private educational institutions for the 2026-27 academic year under its Education 33 Strategy. The expansion adds nearly 17,000 school seats and features international university launches, including Peking University HSBC Business School. The authority is also prioritising AI literacy, future workforce skills, and the addition of 18,000 affordable school places over the next two years.
The UAE, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a feasibility study for the Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (CASA) railway corridor. The route aims to connect Central Asia to Pakistani seaports on the Indian Ocean and complement the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway currently under construction. A joint working group may be formed to assess infrastructure needs, economic viability, and financing options.
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