Banking, fintech, funds, capital markets and cross-border investment
Speakers at the ninth Sharjah Investment Forum stated that the UAE is positioned to become the primary crossing point for global capital flows between East and West within five years. Industry leaders attributed this trajectory to deliberate regulatory frameworks, dedicated oversight bodies like VARA, and rising investor emphasis on asset custody and trust.
Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala plans to accelerate its China investments with targeted annual growth of 15% to 20%, CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak told 21st Century Business Herald. Over the next three to five years, the fund will focus on life sciences, energy and energy transition, infrastructure, and technology. Mubadala has deployed more than $20 billion in China since 2015, shifting toward larger, high-conviction transactions.
Dubai is seeking to attract more Chinese manufacturing companies to increase the manufacturing sector's share of its economy to approximately 20%, Dubai Chambers Chairman Sultan Al Mansoori said. In an interview on the sidelines of the Dubai Business Forum in Shenzhen, Al Mansoori noted the share currently stands between 9% and 11%. Bilateral non-oil trade reached Dh363.5 billion in 2025, and active Chinese member companies in the Dubai Chamber reached 6,650 by September 2026.
Central Bank of the UAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama met with People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng in Bangkok on October 14, 2026. The bilateral discussions focused on central banking cooperation, financial infrastructure links, and cross-border capital flows. Officials noted that bilateral non-oil merchandise trade reached AED 410 billion in 2025.
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