The Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the Dubai Chambers umbrella, hosted the inaugural event of the “Business Opportunities Under the Microscope” initiative for 2026. This initiative aims to assist local companies in exploring expansion opportunities in Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa. The event attracted over 228 participants and highlighted key business and investment opportunities, as well as the operational mechanisms for engaging in these three markets. Attendees gained in-depth insights into promising economic sectors and effective strategies for entering and sustaining growth within these markets.
Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, the Director General of Dubai Chambers, stated, “We are committed to empowering the business community to discover new growth horizons in international markets with significant potential. Our aim is to create an enabling environment for building strategic partnerships that will contribute to their business expansion and sustainability. These efforts are grounded in our commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of private sector companies by providing them with the information and expertise needed to understand foreign market dynamics and engage effectively with their demands, leveraging Dubai’s unique position as a global business and trade hub.”
In 2024, non-oil trade between Dubai and Ethiopia reached approximately 6.6 billion dirhams, reflecting a remarkable annual growth of 90%. Meanwhile, non-oil trade with Ghana increased to 24.7 billion dirhams, demonstrating a growth rate of 75%. South Africa continues to be a key trading partner for Dubai, with trade volume between the two regions amounting to 29 billion dirhams in 2024, marking an annual increase of 20%. These figures underscore the strong economic ties between Dubai and African markets, as well as the promising opportunities that lie ahead.
The “Business Opportunities Under the Microscope” event serves as a cornerstone of the “New Horizons for External Expansion” initiative, providing Dubai companies with opportunities to participate in carefully curated trade missions organized by the Dubai Chamber to selected foreign markets. The chamber plans to arrange trade missions to Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa in the first half of the current year, facilitating events and meetings in these markets to explore investment opportunities and shared economic partnerships.
The session featured a presentation detailing the Dubai Chamber’s efforts to support local companies’ expansion into foreign markets, alongside an overview of available business and investment opportunities in Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa. Participants received comprehensive information about the markets they are considering for commercial and investment expansion, along with tailored recommendations at every stage of their external growth, from market data provision and business operation guidelines to company establishment mechanisms and joint venture arrangements.