Non-oil trade between Dubai and China more than doubled over the past decade, reaching 363.5 billion dirhams ($99 billion) in 2025, according to figures released by Dubai Chambers. China remains Dubai’s largest global trading partner, with bilateral non-oil trade increasing by 118.4 percent from 166.4 billion dirhams in 2016.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, announced the trade growth during the Dubai Business Forum – China held in Shenzhen. He highlighted that from 2016 to 2025, Dubai attracted over 300 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects from China, which accounted for a combined capital investment exceeding 24.6 billion dirhams.
Chinese FDI into Dubai also saw a sharp increase recently, nearly tripling from approximately 1.2 billion dirhams in 2024 to more than 3.4 billion dirhams in 2025. During the same period, bilateral non-oil trade grew nearly 23 percent. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese companies registered with Dubai Chamber more than tripled since 2016, reaching 6,650 by the end of September 2026. Of these, around 3,830 companies operate in trade and services, representing about 58 percent of Chinese membership in the chamber.
Al Mansoori emphasized the evolving relationship between Dubai and China, citing “complementary strengths” that create opportunities for investment, innovation, and shared economic value.
Artificial intelligence emerged as a key focus at the forum. Mohammad Al Rashid Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, outlined plans under Dubai’s Agentic AI transformation programme, designed to support more than 295,000 private-sector companies across the emirate. The initiative aims to develop and deploy 100 specialized AI assistants over two years, and Dubai Chambers is currently providing training in Agentic AI technologies to 14,000 companies.
Additional sessions at the forum explored cooperative opportunities in sectors such as autonomous transport, electric mobility, financial technology, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. There was an emphasis on expanding two-way investment flows, including prospects for Dubai-based capital to enter China’s private equity, venture capital, and technology markets.
Logistics and digital trade were also key discussion points, with participants examining ways to enhance shipping connections among Asia, the Middle East, and global markets by leveraging ports, airports, and AI-driven systems.
The event aligns with Dubai Chambers’ efforts to deepen economic ties with China and supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033.