13 September 2026 15:41 |
Last updated:
13 September 16:21 2026
Summary
The Dubai Business Forum – China is set to take place in Shenzhen on 14 October, aimed at enhancing trade and investment between Dubai and China, as well as exploring opportunities in artificial intelligence and technology under the D33 agenda.
The Dubai Chamber has revealed the agenda for the upcoming “Dubai Business Forum – China,” scheduled for 14 October in Shenzhen under the banner “Accelerating Momentum for Joint Economic Success.” The event features a series of panel discussions with a lineup of officials, experts, and specialised speakers, alongside carefully curated networking sessions. Key topics will focus on the vital cooperation between China and Dubai while highlighting promising opportunities in trade, investment, technology, and innovation in line with the objectives of Dubai’s economic agenda D33.
The forum aims to enhance economic relations between Dubai and China by developing new pathways for trade, investment, and cross-border cooperation. It seeks to connect businesses and investors, as well as Chinese business leaders with Dubai’s vibrant ecosystem, showcasing the competitive advantages the emirate offers as a base for expansion into regional and international markets.
Through sector-specific tracks, the event will organise tailored business meetings, facilitate bilateral trade and investment opportunities, and present cross-border financing solutions, helping participants establish promising long-term partnerships.
Strategic Partnership
Commenting on the forum, Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of the Dubai Chamber, stated, “The partnership between China and Dubai is experiencing rapid development, transitioning from established trade relations to a broader platform for investment and innovation that creates mutual value. The Dubai Business Forum – China will provide a unique opportunity to build on the momentum of our trade connections towards developing new partnerships across various sectors that are shaping the future of the global economy.”
Lootah also emphasised, “Dubai offers a connected business ecosystem and a supportive environment for Chinese companies looking to expand into regional and international markets, benefiting from exciting opportunities in sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and smart mobility, as well as digital platforms. By fostering closer ties between the business communities in Dubai and China, the forum will help open new avenues for opportunities and support the objectives of Dubai’s economic agenda (D33).”
Speaker Line-up
The forum will feature notable speakers, including Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber; Hussein Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China; Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of the Dubai Chamber; and Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, the economic development arm of Dubai’s Economy and Tourism Department.
Mohammed Lootah
Additional speakers include Bader Abbas, Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo; Benjamin Lai, General Manager of DP World China; Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of the Foreign Business Unit of the Intelligent Leadership Group; Saeed Al Qarkawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy; Rachel Shi, General Manager of Tencent Cloud in the Middle East and North Africa; and Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda Group. The list further includes Nour Suwaid, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures; Yiming (Wilson) Zhang, Managing Director and Head of Global Equity Management at CICC; and Yiqing Wan, CEO of China Merchants Capital.
Strategic Themes
The forum will host a series of discussions that examine the evolving cooperation between China and Dubai, transitioning from a trade-focused relationship to a broader partnership driven by investment, innovation, and sector development while expanding into regional markets. Sessions will also highlight strategic priorities within Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), encompassing future sectors, attracting investments, business expansion, and the role of incubators and capital platforms in supporting international growth.
Furthermore, the forum will emphasise the impact of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies on economic development, productivity, and competitiveness, exploring how AI and self-driving mobility solutions can be deployed on a large scale, as well as the infrastructure required to support an AI economy, transitioning from experimental phases to delivering tangible, measurable business value.
Other strategic themes will cover smart capital and investment opportunities in AI, fintech, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, alongside the expansion of Chinese electric vehicle companies and mobility solutions in regional markets, facilitated by advanced logistics service systems and digital frameworks. The discussions will also address the role of transparent regulations, policies, capital, practical testing, and models in transforming innovations from prototypes to globally impactful solutions.
This event marks the fifth international edition of the “Dubai Business Forum,” and its second instance hosted in China. The previous edition, held in Beijing in August 2024, attracted over 800 business leaders. Building on the success of past editions in major cities such as London, Hamburg, and New York, the Dubai Business Forum continues to reinforce the role of the Dubai Chamber in fostering cross-border economic cooperation and unlocking new investment horizons between Dubai and leading global markets.
The Dubai Chamber aims through the “Dubai Business Forum” to stimulate foreign direct investment flows into Dubai, strengthen strategic economic partnerships, enhance cross-border trade, and develop fresh investment avenues domestically and internationally, while also exploring new business and trade avenues between Dubai and key global markets.