Ports, shipping, aviation cargo, warehousing and trade
UAE Presidential Special Envoy Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Concurrently, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed reported that non-oil trade between Dubai and China grew 172-fold over 35 years to AED 363.5 billion in 2025.
Non-oil trade between Dubai and China reached approximately $99 billion in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 23 percent year-on-year. Chinese foreign direct investment into Dubai expanded from $326.8 million in 2024 to more than $925.8 million in 2025. The data was released by Dubai Chambers at the Dubai Business Forum – China in Shenzhen.
Active Chinese company membership in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reached 6,650 by late September 2026, marking a rise exceeding 200 percent since 2016. Over 3,830 of these entities operate within the trading and services sectors. Dubai Chambers emphasized attracting Chinese manufacturers as a key strategic objective as firms scale up into regional headquarters.
Officials at the Dubai Business Forum – China announced initiatives to integrate Chinese manufacturing and artificial intelligence enterprises into Dubai's economic growth strategy. Bilateral non-oil trade between Dubai and China reached approximately AED 363.5 billion ($99 billion) in 2025, up 118.4 percent since 2016. Dubai aims to transition from a regional distribution hub into a Chinese industrial and co-manufacturing center.
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