Follow the trade, investment and partnerships bringing China and the UAE closer together.
Brent crude climbed past $102 per barrel on October 2, 2026, driven by Strait of Hormuz transit concerns and fuel export suspensions by Chinese refiners. Middle East crude exports recovered to 17.5 million barrels per day, while refined product shipments remained constrained at 58% of pre-disruption levels.
Chinese direct investment in the UAE reached $2.6 billion during the latest reporting cycle, marking a more than threefold annual increase. Cumulative investment stock rose to $12.47 billion, making the UAE the top Middle Eastern recipient of Chinese capital. Chinese banks now hold over 30 percent of assets in DIFC's banking sector.
Abu Dhabi is advancing a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative titled 'Zero Hormuz' to reduce logistics reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. Managed by sovereign platform L'imad Holding, the program expands container and oil facilities in Fujairah to safeguard freight and energy exports to partners including China. The move coincides with plans to take AD Ports Group private at a valuation near $9 billion.
China's direct investment in the UAE reached $2.6 billion, more than tripling compared to the previous reporting year as bilateral non-oil trade crossed $100 billion. China Securities received DFSA regulatory approval to establish a presence in DIFC, where Chinese banks now hold over 30 percent of assets. Multiple major Chinese energy and battery companies are also scheduled to participate in ADIPEC 2026.
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