EW Issue 4 August-September 2025 DIGITAL | Page 11

Partnership

China and the UAE: Event partnership of the 21st century?

Theo Reilly reports on a growing events partnership. China is participating more and more in the UAE events landscape, with Chinese exhibitors now outnumbering their American counterparts. How deep does this bond go?
Left: Chinese EV manufacturer Xpeng Aeroht showcases a flying car at GITEX Dubai of Commerce grew by 69 %, compared to the number of UK companies growing by 40 %.
The Dubai Chamber reported that“ China was among the top nationalities for new chamber members”.
In an interview with China Daily, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers called China“ a priority market”.
" We admire China ' s deep-rooted commitment to innovation and are excited about the vast trade and investment opportunities,” Lootah said.
It’ s not just a one-way street. UAE companies are also looking to do more business in China. In 2024, the UAE expanded its presence at Airshow China in Zhuhai with a diverse range of exhibitors. Airshow China is a critical trade show for the Chinese defence industry – it is the only international aerospace trade show approved by the Chinese central government, and features significant government presence.
he UAE has found its

T most important partner. The Gulf state began trading with China in the 1980s, and has grown meteorically since. Now, China is the UAE’ s biggest economic partner, followed by India and the US. With both China and the UAE being powerhouses in the events world, the consequences of this deepening partnership could be major for the industry.

A quick look at the numbers
• Chinese company registrations in Dubai jumped 69 % in 2023
• Major business forums regularly draw hundreds of Chinese investors to the UAE( UAE-China Business Forum in Dubai drew 200 government and business reps)
• Exhibitions like GITEX 2024 feature significant Chinese presence, with 260 Chinese exhibitors, compared to 222 from the US, 49 from the UK and 30 from Germany
• UAE has increased its presence at certain Chinese shows like Airshow China
• Emirates airline now runs 49 weekly flights to China
• UAE ' s trade show revenue growth hit 123 % in 2024 – outpacing Germany’ s 106 %, according to UFI
Chinese companies registered in Dubai growing fast UAE has become China’ s main partner in the Middle East, with $ 95bn in bilateral trade. In 2023, the number of Chinese-owned companies that registered with the Dubai Chamber
Below: Dubai skyline at sunset
Major cooperation events between UAE and China UAE capital Abu Dhabi hosted " Building Bridges for the Future UAE & China " in November 2024, featuring workshops, cultural showcases and networking events.
High-level diplomatic engagement continues. September 2024 saw multiple conferences and visits between Arab leaders and Beijing officials. The UAE-China Business
www. exhibitionworld. co. uk
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