The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a leading international business hub and a key player in boosting global trade flow through Dubai, has reported impressive growth in the number of Chinese companies joining its free zone, with an increase of more than 16% over the past twelve months. This brings the total to over 1,000 Chinese businesses operating within the DMCC. This announcement came during the latest “The Trade Journey” promotional tour organized by the DMCC in China, which included events in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou—three of the most vibrant centers in the country for technology and advanced industries.
This promotional tour highlighted DMCC’s evolving role as a regional launching pad for innovative Chinese firms. The centre has consistently recorded double-digit annual growth in the number of Chinese companies for five consecutive years, with 19% in 2022, 21% in 2023, and 17% anticipated for 2024. This growth has largely been driven by businesses in the fields of artificial intelligence, blockchain, Web 3.0, and digital infrastructure. Currently, DMCC hosts over 130 Chinese tech companies within its broader business community that includes more than 3,400 companies in this sector, thereby offering a comprehensive platform tailored to support their international expansion from Dubai.
In this context, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the CEO and Executive Chairman of DMCC, stated: “China is currently the UAE’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 102 billion last year, a figure expected to double by 2030. This growth reflects the deepening cooperation between the two sides in trade, investment, and innovation, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies where China has seen rapid growth in recent years. We have witnessed this positive development directly through consistent double-digit annual growth in the number of Chinese companies joining our centre over five consecutive years, including a growth over 16% in the past twelve months. Today, DMCC comprises over 1,000 Chinese companies, more than 135 of which are in the technology sector, and we continue to enhance our competitive advantages to solidify our position as a preferred destination for ambitious Chinese companies seeking to expand globally from Dubai.”
Over 750 Chinese business leaders in the three cities were engaged in presentations related to key sectors, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and tokenized assets, reflecting a growing strategic alignment between the two countries.
This visit comes at a time when the economic relations between the UAE and China are expanding beyond traditional trade and exploring new horizons, including joint strategic investments, innovation, and integration with global markets. With DMCC attracting about 15% of the total annual foreign direct investment flows into Dubai and contributing around 7% to the emirate’s GDP, it has become a pivotal instrument for translating this positive bilateral development into tangible business opportunities. As the two nations deepen their collaboration through the BRICS Plus framework and intensify their shared focus on the digital economy, DMCC is poised to play a central role in facilitating the next phase of global expansion for Chinese enterprises, supported by its advanced infrastructure and business-friendly environment.