Software, telecommunications and digital infrastructure
A report from Microsoft's Institute for AI Economy shows that the UAE leads global generative AI adoption with a 73.3% usage rate among its working-age population in Q2 2026. Singapore ranked second at 64.3%, while the worldwide average stood at 18.8%. The rankings measure adoption among working-age adults rather than investment volume or company counts.
Officials from Sharjah and China met to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation across manufacturing, artificial intelligence, data centers, and healthcare. Discussions also addressed establishing a Chinese cultural institute in Sharjah. Registry data showed 851 Chinese enterprises operating in Sharjah by June 2026, with bilateral trade reaching AED 6.3 billion in 2025.
More than 6,400 Chinese companies were registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by mid-2026 as Dubai accelerates its shift toward high-value technology sectors. Bilateral non-oil trade reached approximately $99 billion, reflecting deeper collaboration across artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
Over 250 global institutional investors, sovereign wealth fund executives, and infrastructure developers will gather in Dubai on October 14, 2026, for the inaugural RISE Summit. The event includes a panel featuring CICC's DIFC branch leadership focusing on cross-border capital deployment connecting China, the Gulf, and international markets. Discussions will address investments in transport, AI data centers, and renewable energy.
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