UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi concluded trade and investment meetings at the 81st UN General Assembly on September 28, 2026. The discussions aimed to expand bilateral trade flows, mobilize private capital, and bolster international commercial corridors. The initiative aligns with the UAE's broader strategy to enhance market access for foreign enterprises.
The fifth Global Digital Trade Expo concluded in Hangzhou, drawing over 50,000 attendees and securing seven bilateral China-Arab cooperation projects valued at $255 million. Concurrently, Chinese direct investment in the UAE reached $2.6 billion amid expanding operations from major Chinese technology firms. Bilateral partnerships also advanced through financial collaboration between Abu Dhabi Global Market and Shenzhen's Futian District, alongside autonomous driving infrastructure in Dubai.
Chinese autonomous driving firm Baidu has opened a 2,000-square-metre Apollo Go operations and control centre in Dubai to support commercial robotaxi deployment. The initiative aligns with Dubai's objective to achieve 25 percent autonomous transportation by 2030. Dubai's robotaxi network has exceeded 4 million operating kilometres across commercial and testing phases.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority has announced phased compliance deadlines for its mandatory e-invoicing system based on annual revenue thresholds. Businesses earning AED 50 million or more must implement the system by January 1, 2027, while those below the threshold have until July 1, 2027. Entities are required to engage accredited service providers ahead of their respective operational deadlines.
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