Dubai Chambers has unveiled the agenda for the upcoming Dubai Business Forum – China 2026, placing artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, fintech, logistics and cross-border investment at the centre of the conversation.
The forum will take place in Shenzhen on 14 October 2026 under the theme “Momentum at Scale: Accelerating Shared Success.”
For Dubai, this is more than another international business gathering. The forum is part of a wider push to deepen commercial ties with China while positioning the emirate as a base for Chinese companies looking at the Middle East, Africa and other international markets.
Dubai and China Move Beyond Traditional Trade
The Dubai-China business relationship is increasingly moving beyond conventional trade into areas such as technology, investment, innovation and digital services. Dubai Chambers said the forum will create opportunities for Chinese businesses to connect directly with Dubai-based companies, investors and government-linked entities while exploring sectors with strong growth potential.
That shift is important because Dubai is no longer presenting itself only as a market for imported goods or services. It is increasingly pitching itself as a regional headquarters, logistics base and investment platform for international companies that want access to several markets at once. For Chinese businesses, especially those in technology and manufacturing, that wider regional reach is becoming a major part of Dubai’s appeal.
AI and the Digital Economy Take Centre Stage
Artificial intelligence and the wider digital economy will be among the most prominent themes at the forum. Discussions are expected to cover AI infrastructure, autonomous mobility, digital platforms and the commercial deployment of emerging technologies.
This focus reflects Dubai’s wider economic strategy, which places technology adoption at the heart of future business growth. The emirate has been building a stronger ecosystem around AI, digital startups and advanced industries, while encouraging international technology companies to establish a presence in the city. For Chinese firms working in AI, cloud computing, smart mobility and digital services, Dubai offers a market that is actively trying to accelerate adoption rather than simply observe new technologies from the sidelines.
Chinese Companies See Dubai as a Regional Expansion Base
Dubai Chambers is also using the forum to reinforce a clear message to Chinese companies: Dubai can serve as a gateway for regional and international expansion.
That message is especially relevant to businesses operating in artificial intelligence, smart mobility, logistics, digital platforms and advanced manufacturing. Chinese companies already have strong capabilities in many of these sectors, and Dubai is trying to connect those strengths with its own ambitions in technology, infrastructure and cross-border commerce.
For businesses entering the UAE, the decision is not simply about opening an office. It is also about choosing the right structure, market, licensing environment and operating base. This is where Dubai’s free zones and mainland business ecosystem become part of the broader investment conversation.
Smart Capital Targets AI, Fintech and Advanced Manufacturing
Investment will be another major focus of the forum, with discussions expected to examine how capital can be directed into high-growth sectors such as AI, fintech, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure.
The idea of “smart capital” is particularly relevant in these sectors because companies often need more than funding alone. They also need access to markets, regulatory support, experienced partners, talent and industry-specific infrastructure. Dubai is trying to position itself as a place where these elements can come together, especially for international companies entering the Gulf region for the first time.
This also creates opportunities for venture capital firms, family offices, accelerators and institutional investors looking for exposure to Chinese technology businesses with regional ambitions.
Logistics Could Be Just as Important as AI
While AI is likely to attract much of the attention, logistics remains one of the most practical parts of the Dubai-China relationship. The forum will also look at resilient trade corridors, advanced supply chains and the digital systems that support cross-border movement of goods and services.
Dubai already has an established advantage here because of its airport connectivity, ports, warehousing infrastructure and geographic position between Asia, Europe and Africa. For Chinese manufacturers, e-commerce businesses and distributors, this makes Dubai useful not only as a sales market but also as a regional logistics and fulfilment base.
That connection is particularly relevant for companies considering a free zone setup because several UAE free zones are built around logistics, trade, industrial activity and cross-border distribution.
Major Chinese and UAE Business Leaders Join the Forum
The speaker lineup reflects the forum’s emphasis on technology, investment and international expansion. Senior officials from Dubai Chambers and UAE government institutions will take part alongside executives and representatives from major Chinese and international companies.
Participants are expected from organisations including Baidu, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud, DP World China, Emirates SkyCargo, BYD, Wamda Group, Global Ventures, China Merchants Capital, Yalla Group, Dubai Future Foundation, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility and ARIDGE.
That mix of government, logistics, finance, mobility and technology companies gives the forum a practical business angle. It creates space for market-entry discussions, investment conversations, commercial partnerships and direct engagement between companies that may otherwise operate in separate ecosystems.
Shenzhen Is a Deliberate Choice
Shenzhen is a natural venue for this edition of the Dubai Business Forum because it is one of China’s most important centres for technology, electronics, electric vehicles, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.
Hosting the event there allows Dubai Chambers to take its investment and expansion message directly to the companies shaping some of China’s fastest-growing industries. Rather than relying solely on inbound interest, Dubai is actively going to the markets where future investors, technology firms and manufacturing groups are based.
Shenzhen’s position within the Greater Bay Area also makes it especially attractive because the region brings together a dense concentration of companies, entrepreneurs, investors and industrial capabilities.
What the Forum Means for UAE Business Setup
For companies considering expansion into the UAE, the Dubai Business Forum – China 2026 offers a useful signal about where Dubai expects future investment to come from and which sectors are likely to receive the strongest attention.
Technology firms may be drawn by digital infrastructure and government-backed innovation programmes. Manufacturers may focus on industrial zones, logistics access and regional distribution. Fintech companies will look at licensing and financial ecosystems, while e-commerce businesses may prioritise warehousing, fulfilment and cross-border reach.
Free zones can play a major role in these decisions because they offer sector-focused ecosystems, foreign ownership, simplified company formation and access to specialised infrastructure. Mainland structures may suit other companies depending on how they plan to trade, hire, contract with customers and operate inside the UAE.
The forum therefore matters beyond the event itself. It reflects the types of businesses Dubai is actively trying to attract and the sectors that could shape future company formation activity in the emirate.
Dubai Business Forum Expands Its International Reach
The Shenzhen event will be the fifth international edition of the Dubai Business Forum and the second one held in China.
Its previous China edition took place in Beijing in August 2024 and attracted more than 800 business leaders. Dubai Chambers has also taken the forum to cities including London, Hamburg and New York as part of its wider international outreach strategy.
The objective is consistent across these events: attract investment into Dubai, strengthen international business links, expand trade and create new commercial opportunities between Dubai and major global markets.
China remains one of the most important markets in that strategy, particularly as cooperation increasingly shifts toward AI, advanced manufacturing, mobility, digital platforms and technology-led investment.
Conclusion
The Dubai Business Forum – China 2026 shows how quickly the Dubai-China business relationship is evolving. Trade remains important, but technology, AI, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and investment are becoming much more central.
For Chinese companies, Dubai is being positioned as more than a destination market. It is being presented as a base for regional growth, logistics, investment and cross-border expansion.
For investors and entrepreneurs watching the UAE, the message is equally clear. Dubai is actively building the commercial environment, infrastructure and international partnerships needed to attract the next wave of technology-driven businesses.
Sources
Government of Dubai Media Office — Dubai Chambers Unveils Agenda for Dubai Business Forum – China, Focusing on Digital Economy
https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2026/september/13-09/dubai-chambers-unveils-agenda-for-dubai-business-forum-china-focusing-on-digital-economy