Shenzhen to host Dubai Forum as digital bridge to business

The fifth International Dubai Business Forum will take place on May 14, 2026, in Shenzhen, a booming innovation-driven city in South China, as announced by the host Dubai Chambers on Thursday. The event aims to expand Dubai's global network and reinforce the city as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment.

This will be the second time the forum is held in China, following the 2024 event in Beijing.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said, "We are here to build tangible pathways for growth in the digital economy, helping to pioneer Chinese companies to leverage Dubai's strategic platform and scale internationally."

Speaking at the news conference, he emphasized that growing and expanding the digital economy is vital to the D33 Dubai Economic Agenda, which targets making the digital economy account for 20 percent of Dubai's total economy by 2033, with a projected value of 200 billion yuan ($28.6 billion).

Lootah noted that the strategy offers Chinese digital companies, including startups, the chance to explore, establish and thrive in Dubai. "Dubai is in great need of service-oriented companies in AI. We are not only developing AI but also using AI to empower other industries, such as healthcare services," he added.

Dubai Chambers also plans to attract more AI service providers to the city to promote economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for its residents.

He further emphasized Dubai's role as a key regional hub, allowing access to markets in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Companies based in Dubai can reach over 70 countries with their solutions and products, he said.

"We have signed bilateral trade agreements with 27 countries. This means if companies invest in the United Arab Emirates to set up production, their products can be exported tax-free to at least 27 global trade countries, which I believe is a great opportunity for manufacturers."

According to official statistics, the UAE is China's largest trading partner in the Arab region, with about 60 percent Chinese products being re-exported through UAE ports to over 400 cities in the Middle East and North Africa, making the country one of China's most important strategic trade hubs.

In 2024, 80.8 percent of electric vehicles imported into Dubai came from China, followed by Germany (10.6 percent) and the United States (4.6 percent).

The number of active Chinese member companies registered with the Dubai Chambers grew from 2,056 in 2015 to 6,355 by the end of November 2025, an increase of 209 percent.