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The Dubai Business Women Council took part in the Dubai Business Forum – China held in Shenzhen on October 14 and 15 as a component of the largest overseas delegation organised by Dubai Chambers according to the Emirates News Agency. The gathering drew 112 business leaders and representatives from Dubai alongside 854 Chinese company officials and investors WAM reported. Dr. Raja Al Gurg president of the DBWC led a dedicated session titled Dubai Women in Business Leadership Legacy and the Dubai Advantage that highlighted opportunities for female entrepreneurs in bilateral trade.
Dubai Chambers signed four memorandums of understanding with Chinese business organisations from Beijing Shenzhen Guangzhou and Chongqing during the forum the Emirates News Agency stated. The agreements focus on promoting trade and investment facilitating information exchange and organising joint business events to connect companies from both sides. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah president and CEO of Dubai Chambers signed three of the pacts while Salem AlShamsi executive vice president for international relations at the chambers signed the fourth.
Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and China reached $111.5 billion in 2025 reflecting a 24.5 percent annual increase according to data from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade. China accounts for around 11 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil trade and ranks as the country’s top import partner WAM figures show. The UAE serves as China’s leading trading partner in the Middle East and Africa contributing more than 20 percent of Beijing’s non-oil trade with the region over the past decade.
The number of active Chinese companies registered with Dubai Chambers exceeded 6,650 by the end of September having more than doubled since 2016 a recent economic assessment found. Chinese direct investment in the UAE totalled $2.6 billion last year while the number of Chinese firms operating across the country has reached approximately 15,500 according to statements from the UAE Ministry of Economy. These developments coincide with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China which both sides have marked with multiple high-level business forums this year.
The DBWC session emphasised the role of women entrepreneurs in fostering cross-border partnerships and showcased Dubai’s business environment as supportive of innovation and growth the Emirates News Agency indicated. Participants discussed challenges and opportunities in sectors including technology logistics and sustainable development where female-led businesses from the UAE could collaborate with Chinese counterparts. The council’s involvement forms part of broader efforts to empower women in international trade and align with national strategies for economic diversification.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori chairman of Dubai Chambers described the forum as marking a new phase in China-Dubai ties focused on co-creation of industries capital flows and innovation platforms according to coverage by Xinhua. Earlier this year the UAE and China signed 24 additional agreements during a business promotion conference in Beijing that covered investment innovation and trade expansion WAM reported. These cumulative initiatives have elevated non-oil trade targets with projections reaching $200 billion by 2030 based on assessments from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade.
