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The Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates at its headquarters this week for talks focused on economic cooperation. Chamber chairman Saif Al Ghurair led the delegation that reviewed existing relations with Consul General M. M. M. Jiffry and identified opportunities to deepen links in trade, tourism and technology. The meeting highlighted Sri Lanka’s recovering economy and the role of UAE investors in supporting its growth priorities.
According to the Emirates News Agency, both sides expressed interest in practical steps to promote mutual investment and facilitate business exchanges. Officials from the chamber outlined Ras Al Khaimah’s free zones, industrial infrastructure and business incentives while the consulate presented Sri Lanka’s open sectors including ports, logistics and agriculture. The discussion built on longstanding ties that include a large Sri Lankan community in the UAE.
Gulf News reported that bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Sri Lanka reached $1.1 billion in 2025, a 5.2 percent increase from the prior year. The UAE counts among Sri Lanka’s top four trading partners and represents 5.2 percent of the country’s overall foreign trade volume. These figures underscore the momentum the recent Ras Al Khaimah meeting sought to accelerate.
Khaleej Times data places the UAE as Sri Lanka’s sixth-largest investor with bilateral trade valued at approximately $1.7 billion and around 350,000 Sri Lankan nationals living and working in the country. Sri Lanka has targeted sectors such as logistics, information technology and tourism for additional UAE capital following the signing of an investment promotion and protection agreement in 2025. The chamber talks aimed to connect these national trends with specific opportunities at the emirate level.
A report from the Sri Lanka Business portal shows Sri Lankan exports to the UAE totaled $341 million in 2025 while imports from the UAE stood at $1.44 billion, yielding total trade of nearly $1.78 billion. Main exports included tea, garments and coconut products while imports comprised petroleum, sugars and machinery. Such statistics informed the parties’ review of potential new value chains during the session.
Sri Lanka’s 2024 Investment Promotion Act together with the bilateral treaty has created safeguards that UAE officials have cited as positive for expanding investment, according to coverage in Gulf News. The Ras Al Khaimah Chamber and the consulate agreed to pursue follow-up actions including business delegations and participation in exhibitions. These steps are intended to convert the identified opportunities into measurable partnerships.
The meeting concluded with plans for continued coordination between the chamber and the consulate to support enterprises from both sides. Ras Al Khaimah’s focus on diversified industry and Sri Lanka’s emphasis on infrastructure development offer complementary strengths that participants noted could drive future collaboration. Additional engagements are scheduled to maintain progress on the agenda established this week.
