The Dubai Chamber has announced the organization of the fifth edition of the Dubai Business Forum, which will take place in Shenzhen, China, on May 14, 2026. This event aims to introduce the Chinese business community to the diverse and promising opportunities available through Dubai’s economic agenda (D33).
The forum is designed to foster new strategic partnerships and investments between China and Dubai, showcasing the competitive economic advantages of the emirate. It serves as an ideal launchpad for Chinese companies looking to expand into the rapidly growing markets of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Hosting the event in Shenzhen further highlights its strategic importance in the Greater Bay Area – Hong Kong, a leading global hub for technological innovation.
Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO of the Dubai Chamber, stated: “Our return to China to hold the Dubai Business Forum, particularly in Shenzhen, known for its innovation and technology focus, reflects our strong commitment to bolstering this vital economic partnership and its critical role in the digital economy. We aim to create practical and sustainable pathways for growth and enable leading Chinese firms to utilize the strategic platform that Dubai offers for their global expansion.”
He added: “Building on the positive momentum from the previous edition in China in 2024, the forum serves as a catalyst for exploring new collaboration opportunities, partnerships, and joint ventures that contribute to achieving Dubai’s economic agenda (D33), heralding a new era of shared prosperity.”
The forum serves as a premier platform for developing business relationships and economic partnerships, bringing together top executives from multinational corporations, fast-growing tech companies, unicorn startups, venture capital investors, and representatives from family-owned businesses.
A high-level delegation from Dubai will participate in the forum, including senior officials from both the public and private sectors, family business representatives, and business leaders from the emirate. The event will feature bilateral business meetings, panel discussions covering various sectors, and constructive dialogues aimed at establishing long-term cooperation frameworks. Additionally, the sessions will provide opportunities for exchanging insights and substantial ideas in innovation, trade, digital economy, and future industries.
The organization of the forum aligns with the Dubai Chamber’s ongoing efforts to expand its global network and reinforce Dubai’s position as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment. The growing and accelerating presence of Chinese companies in Dubai reflects the robust economic ties between the two regions, with the number of active Chinese members registered with the Dubai Chamber exceeding 6,190 companies by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
Shenzhen was selected as the host city for the forum due to its pivotal role as a global center for technology and business, making it the ideal location for this strategic event, which gathers essential partners from both Dubai and China to explore collaboration opportunities and highlight the role of Dubai’s economic ecosystem in supporting the global expansion of Chinese businesses.
The previous edition of the Dubai Business Forum – China, held in Beijing in August 2024, attracted over 800 business leaders and investors and resulted in several partnerships with prominent Chinese institutions.