Dubai is taking its campaign for deeper economic ties with China to Shenzhen, where a business forum next month will put artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and financial technology at the center of discussions between investors, executives and government officials.
The Dubai Business Forum – China is scheduled for October 14 under the theme “Momentum at Scale: Accelerating Shared Success.” Organized by Dubai Chambers, the gathering will include sector-focused discussions, meetings between businesses and investors, and sessions examining trade and investment opportunities between Dubai and China.
Rather than concentrating solely on the movement of goods, the agenda reflects an attempt to broaden the relationship into technology investment, advanced manufacturing and cross-border business expansion. Dubai Chambers said participants would examine opportunities in AI, fintech, digital infrastructure, logistics and mobility, including the regional growth of Chinese electric-vehicle companies.
The Shenzhen setting is central to that strategy. The city is home to a dense network of technology manufacturers, software companies, investors and globally active businesses. Bringing Dubai’s case directly to that audience gives officials an opportunity to speak with companies already considering how to diversify beyond their domestic market.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: “The partnership between China and Dubai is evolving rapidly, moving beyond well-established trade ties towards a broader platform for investment, innovation, and shared value creation. The Dubai Business Forum – China provides a unique opportunity to build on the momentum of our commercial ties and develop new partnerships across the sectors shaping the future of the global economy.”
Technology Moves to the Center
Artificial intelligence will occupy a prominent place in the program, but the planned discussions extend beyond the race to develop increasingly capable models. Speakers are expected to address large-scale commercial deployment, the infrastructure required to support AI systems and the challenge of turning experimental projects into measurable business outcomes.
The announced lineup draws from companies operating across several parts of the technology economy. Representatives of Baidu, Tencent Cloud and Huawei Cloud are due to participate alongside executives from investment groups and Dubai institutions. Their presence should bring questions of computing infrastructure, access to capital and regional commercialization into the same conversation.
Mobility provides another practical test of the relationship. Executives associated with BYD, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility and ARIDGE, formerly known as XPENG AEROHT, are among the confirmed participants. Planned sessions will examine the expansion of Chinese electric-vehicle and mobility businesses across regional markets, as well as the regulation and physical infrastructure needed to move newer transport systems beyond demonstrations.
Dubai already has experience serving as a testing ground for some Chinese mobility companies. An earlier official briefing from Dubai Chambers highlighted ARIDGE’s flying-vehicle demonstrations and Keeta Drone’s delivery operations. ARIDGE completed an overseas public demonstration of its Land Aircraft Carrier in Dubai in October 2025, while Keeta Drone received a commercial license for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations in the UAE in December 2024.
Capital, Payments and Trade Corridors
Fintech adds another layer to the agenda because expansion across borders depends on more than finding customers. Companies also need payment systems, banking relationships and regulatory structures capable of supporting transactions across several jurisdictions. Planned discussions will look at investment in fintech and digital infrastructure alongside the capital platforms and incubators that support international growth.
China-headquartered payments company PingPong offers one example of the commercial logic behind the forum. Dubai Chambers said the company selected Dubai in response to payment demand generated by trade between China, the Middle East and Africa. Its presence in the emirate is intended to support companies managing sales and payments across several markets through a regional base.
Logistics will receive similar attention. Representatives from DP World China, Emirates SkyCargo, iMile Delivery and YTO International are included in the speaker lineup. Their sessions are expected to consider how ports, air cargo, delivery networks and digital systems can strengthen trade corridors linking Chinese producers with customers across the Gulf, Africa and South Asia.
The October event will be the fifth international edition of the Dubai Business Forum and the second held in China. Its previous Chinese edition took place in Beijing in August 2024 and attracted more than 800 business leaders. Other editions have been staged in London, Hamburg and New York.
