The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has reported a significant growth of 9.4% in its community of Chinese businesses over the past year. This announcement follows the conclusion of its promotional tour, “Born to Trade,” which took place in Shanghai, Wuxi, and Xi’an. The initiative aimed to bolster the next phase of trade and investment relations between the United Arab Emirates and China.
Significant Presence of Chinese Companies
Currently, the DMCC hosts over 1,000 Chinese companies, with more than 60% engaged in sectors such as energy, engineering, machinery, technology, and communications. This concentration underscores the strategic importance of these industries in the region.
Focus on Key Chinese Cities
The decision to include Shanghai, Wuxi, and Xi’an in the latest international tour was based on the cities’ strengths in technology, advanced manufacturing, energy, and industrial growth. The meetings held during the tour provided Chinese companies with insights into opportunities for establishing international operations and expanding from Dubai, especially into the rapidly growing markets of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Record Trade Levels
This promotional tour coincides with record levels of trade between the UAE and China, where non-oil bilateral trade reached an impressive $111.5 billion in 2025—a 24.5% annual increase. Economic relations between the two nations have diversified, now encompassing advanced technology, renewable energy, digital trade, and sophisticated industrial value chains, in addition to traditional trade activities.
DMCC’s Strategic Insights
Ahamed Bin Sulayem, the CEO and Executive Chairman of DMCC, remarked, “Trade between the UAE and China hit record levels in 2025, and this performance is clearly reflected in the number of Chinese companies using Dubai as a base for their international operations.” He further noted the strategic choice of focusing on cities noted for their strengths in energy, engineering, advanced machinery, and technology, particularly as they connect directly with the specialised ecosystems being developed in Dubai.