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Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone said in a statement that its delegation headed by Group CEO Ramy Jallad wrapped up the business mission in Guangdong after hosting forums in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan. The events highlighted prospects in the growing Middle Eastern market for Chinese companies while allowing RAKEZ representatives to gain insights into overseas expansion plans of local firms. Discussions centered on creating effective platforms for sustained bilateral cooperation across multiple industries.
The RAKEZ announcement listed participating companies from sectors that included automotive, energy, pharmaceuticals, IT, electronics, telecom, construction, finance and e-commerce. Trade associations involved were the Guangzhou Association of Trade in Services, the Shenzhen Electronics Industrial Association and the Shenzhen State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Government representatives came from the Dongguan Bureau of Commerce and the Songshan Lake Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone.
Jallad said in the statement, “The potential for business collaboration between Guangdong and Ras Al Khaimah is vast, spanning across multiple sectors. Hundreds of Chinese companies, from SMEs to manufacturing giants, have already chosen RAKEZ as their base. A significant portion of these companies play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability efforts in both Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE.” He added that RAKEZ was engaging with government entities, multinationals, associations and SMEs to support their Middle East growth through the emirate.
UAE government data cited in the announcement placed non-oil trade with China at more than 72 billion dollars in 2022, an 18 percent increase from 61 billion dollars the previous year. A subsequent China Daily report found that the figure surpassed 100 billion dollars for the first time in 2025, climbing 24.5 percent to reach 111.5 billion dollars. The UAE has become China’s largest export market in the Arab world while China ranks as the UAE’s top overall trading partner.
The RAKEZ statement noted that the UAE has emerged as a key destination for Chinese investors under the Belt and Road Initiative, with state-owned enterprises involved in major infrastructure projects including ports, railways and highways. Chinese firms stand to benefit further by establishing operations in Ras Al Khaimah, where the zone offers end-to-end services and aftercare support. Jallad emphasised in the announcement that RAKEZ’s location and customer-first approach positioned it to help achieve higher bilateral trade targets.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone operates as one of the UAE’s largest free zones, providing licensing and facilities for businesses across more than 50 industries with over 18,000 registered companies from more than 100 countries. The delegation’s visit aligns with ongoing efforts to attract additional Chinese investment, building on existing successes in sectors such as manufacturing and sustainability. The announcement described Guangdong as a natural partner given its status as a major foreign trade and export hub in China.
