Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on October 12, 2026, that Dubai Chambers is sending its largest-ever economic delegation to Shenzhen to attend the Dubai Business Forum – China on October 14. Official figures released with the announcement showed that Dubai-China non-oil trade reached AED 363.5 billion in 2025, up from AED 2.1 billion in 1990. China remains Dubai's largest trading partner globally, with the Shenzhen forum focusing on artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, financial technology, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
Simultaneously, the UAE deployed 16 Emirati AI specialists to Beijing and Shanghai for a five-day study visit from October 12 to 16 under the Artificial Intelligence track of the National Experts Program (NEP-AI). Centered on AI governance, smart nation systems, and digital government, the mission explores how AI research, policy, and digital platforms can align with national priorities and public services.
The visiting group is scheduled to engage with Chinese tech enterprises and research bodies, including Zhipu AI, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), ByteDance, AgiBot, and Agentrix. Discussions address topics ranging from large language model development and regulatory frameworks to robotics, embodied intelligence, and enterprise automation.
The mission forms part of NEP-AI's broader eight-month learning pathway involving 32 Emirati professionals from government, academia, and industry, which also includes international study tracks to Canada and Silicon Valley. Six NEP alumni and fellows accompany the delegation to support bilateral discussions and knowledge transfer.
Sources
- Emirates 24/7 · 2026-10-12
