Dubai Business Forum 2026 Heads to Shenzhen, Eyes Future with China Tech

Dubai Chambers has set its sights on Shenzhen for the next international edition of the Dubai Business Forum, with the event scheduled for 14 May 2026. The main aim is to give Chinese companies a closer look at the investment prospects emerging from Dubai’s Economic Agenda, better known as D33. And believe it or not, the timing feels spot on, especially as more Chinese firms are eyeing the Middle East as their next big leap.

The choice of Shenzhen isn’t exactly a surprise. Anyone who’s wandered through the city’s tech districts knows it’s a hive of innovation, with the Greater Bay Area acting as a magnet for global investors. Dubai Chambers clearly wants to tap into that energy, positioning the emirate as a launchpad for Chinese businesses that are ready to expand into fast-growing markets across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. I remember chatting with a founder at a past Arageek event who told me that entering Dubai first made entering Africa “a lot less of a faff,” which always stuck with me.

H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, set the tone in remarks shared publicly, saying that returning to China—especially to Shenzhen—reflects a “deep commitment to this vital economic partnership.” He underlined plans to create “tangible pathways for growth in the digital economy,” helping Chinese innovators use Dubai as a base to scale globally. I reckon this focus on digital industries is what will get the most attention; after all, both markets are pushing hard on future technologies.

The forum itself is shaping up to be a heavyweight gathering. Multinationals, tech scale-ups, unicorns, VCs, and influential family businesses are all expected to attend, alongside a senior delegation from Dubai that includes free zone leaders, C-suite executives, and family offices. Sessions are planned around innovation, trade, emerging industries, and the digital economy—nothing too fluffy, but enough depth for those looking to build real partnerships. On the flip side, these curated networking events can be a bit overwhelming, though people seem to come away with useful contacts.

What’s driving all this is the increasing presence of Chinese companies in Dubai. By the end of Q3 2025, more than 6,190 Chinese businesses were registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. That’s no small figure, and it explains why the forum will also include business‑matching meetings, sector roundtables, and policy discussions aimed at strengthening long-term cooperation.

Shenzhen was picked as the host city partly because of its status as a global tech powerhouse, but also because it offers the right environment for a dialogue of this calibre. Dubai Chambers has been gradually expanding its international footprint, with previous editions of the forum held in Beijing, London, Hamburg, and New York. The Beijing event in 2024 drew over 800 attendees, so expectations for Shenzhen are pretty high—even if organising these events is, well… a bit of a logistical faff.

This upcoming forum marks the second time the series heads to China and the fifth time it’s held outside the UAE overall. For Dubai Chambers, it’s another step in a broader mission: strengthening global partnerships, boosting cross-border trade, and unlocking fresh investment flows. And if the momentum we've seen across the region continues, the 2026 edition should add another layer to Dubai’s growing appeal among Chinese innovators, even if not everyone is chuffed to bits about long-haul travel.

If nothing else, it highlights how both sides are keen to shape their next chapter of economic collaboration—slowly but definately surely.

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