Programme

Keynote Remarks 

China stands today as Dubai’s largest trading partner, reflecting a relationship built on trust, connectivity, and long-term economic ambition. As trade corridors evolve into investment partnerships, both Dubai and China are entering a new phase of cooperation; one driven not only by the exchange of goods, but by the co-creation of industries, capital flows, innovation platforms, and regional expansion opportunities. 

In this keynote address, H.E. Eng. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori will highlight how Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a strategic gateway for Chinese companies seeking international growth, while creating new pathways for Dubai-based businesses and investors to access China’s scale, innovation ecosystem, and economic momentum. The address will demonstrate how this partnership is generating mutual value, accelerating cross-border investment, and shaping a shared vision for sustainable growth across the region and beyond. 

TED-Style  

Dubai’s approach to economic growth is defined by decisive action, long-term planning, and the ability to adapt quickly to global change. Through the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), the emirate continues to strengthen its position as a global business hub by accelerating investment, enabling innovation, and creating new pathways for international expansion. 

In this fireside chat, H.E. Hadi Badri will highlight the strategic priorities shaping Dubai’s next phase of growth, from future-focused sectors and regulatory agility to investment attraction and business expansion. He will also discuss how recent initiatives reinforce Dubai’s commitment to enabling business growth and economic competitiveness. For Chinese multinationals, this session will provide insight into where the opportunities lie within Dubai’s evolving economy and how the emirate can support their regional and global ambitions. 

Expert Dialogue 

Chinese automakers are redefining global e-mobility through unmatched innovation and rapid development and expansion cycles. Chinese brands represented 10% of the MENA market in 2024, a share projected to rise to 34% by 2030, while in the UAE, inquiries for Chinese EVs surged 77% in the same year, accelerating momentum behind the nation’s Net Zero 2050 strategy. 

Success in this shifting landscape is now defined by partnership models that transcends traditional distribution. Explore how Dubai’s regional champions are emerging as both strategic partners and co-investors, enabling Chinese enterprises to anchor themselves within the region’s long-term energy transition. Industry leaders will examine how Chinese manufacturing strength and Dubai’s market access are combining to build consumer trust and position the emirate as the launchpad for sustainable mobility across MENA. 

Expert Dialogue 

As Chinese technology firms evolve from participants to architects of the global digital economy, their presence in Dubai has become a long-term commitment to the region’s digital development. Despite global complexity, these firms have maintained a steady trajectory, with thousands of professionals now based in Dubai, reflecting confidence in the emirate as a stable global hub. 

Leadership from Tencent and Huawei will outline their MENA expansion strategies, focusing on how Dubai’s institutional framework supports large-scale cloud and smart industry deployments. They will also examine how the D33 Agenda aligns with their execution in the region to enable scalable, long-term growth. 

Fireside Chat 

Legend Holding Group has evolved into a diversified UAE-based enterprise operating across multiple sectors and international markets. Today, the group’s expansion spans industries including manufacturing, mobility, energy, and business services, supported by a growing regional and global footprint. In this session, Mira Wu will share the company’s growth journey; from establishing its presence in Dubai to scaling operations across sectors and geographies. She will discuss how Dubai’s business environment enabled Legend to expand internationally, diversify its operations, and build an integrated platform supporting long-term growth.  

Panel Discussion 

As Dubai accelerates its position as a global technology and innovation hub under the D33 Agenda, new opportunities are emerging for Chinese capital to participate in the emirate’s fast-growing tech ecosystem. At the same time, UAE-based asset managers and family businesses are increasingly exploring access to China’s private markets, venture capital landscape, and innovation-driven growth sectors. 

This session will examine how investors on both sides can unlock value across the China–Dubai investment corridor. Discussions will focus on opportunities for Chinese capital to invest in Dubai’s technology sectors, including AI, fintech, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, while also exploring how UAE investors can gain strategic exposure to Chinese private equity and venture capital opportunities. The session will highlight the role of Dubai as a platform connecting capital, innovation, and international expansion. 

Fireside Chat 

For Baidu Apollo, expansion into Dubai represents more than geographic reach; it reflects the integration of autonomous mobility systems into an emerging global framework for applied AI deployment. Join Henry He as he examines the operational logic behind anchoring the world’s leading autonomous driving ecosystem in Dubai. From navigating first-of-its-kind regulatory frameworks to the operational realities of a city-wide rollout, Henry shares the untold story of how Dubai’s “Blueprint for AI” converts technological momentum into massive-scale growth and cross-border innovation. 

Fireside Chat 

The China–Dubai story today is defined by scale, momentum, and a community of more than 6,000 enterprises. In this exclusive dialogue, H.E. Lootah reflects on the journey from early trade pioneers to today’s technology leaders shaping the economy of 2026 and beyond. Translating this legacy into a visionary future, H.E. will unveil the Chamber’s roadmap for the next frontier: a two-year transformation programme designed to radically boost private sector productivity through Agentic AI. With focused incubators, capital platforms and talent pathways, it is an open invitation for Chinese innovators to scale their next chapter from Dubai under the D33 Agenda. 

Fireside Chat 

From the boardrooms of Huawei and Alibaba to the sands of Dubai, Rita was fuelled by a singular “Dubai Dream”: to redefine the regional logistics experience through digital-first innovation. Today, iMile stands as a powerful testament to how Dubai’s high-velocity infrastructure and proactive startup ecosystem is an incubator for global champions. 

Rita Huang offers her perspective on the journey from a local startup to a global logistics disruptor. She will decode the “Dubai Advantage”, the unique synergy where China’s tech agility meets the emirate’s unparalleled connectivity and how that model enabled iMile to solve regional e-commerce challenges, scale globally and turn ambition into execution. 

Panel Discussion 

As global trade flows continue to evolve, Dubai and China are playing an increasingly important role in shaping faster, smarter, and more connected commercial corridors. Through advanced logistics infrastructure, digital trade systems, integrated ports, and AI-enabled clearance solutions, Dubai is accelerating the movement of goods, capital, and businesses across international markets. 

This session will explore how Dubai and China can jointly create new opportunities to enhance global connectivity and enable the next phase of international trade growth. Industry leaders will discuss how Dubai’s integrated logistics ecosystem supports speed, scalability, and market expansion for Chinese companies pursuing global growth strategies, while also strengthening cross-border trade and investment flows between Asia, the Middle East, and beyond under the D33 Agenda. 

Fireside Chat 

Yalla Group’s rise from a Dubai-based startup to the UAE’s first homegrown tech unicorn reflects the growing strength of Dubai’s digital economy and its ability to support globally scalable technology companies. By combining regional market insight with platform innovation, Yalla successfully built online social experiences tailored to the preferences and culture of the MENA region. 

In this session, Jason Hua will share the story behind the “Yalla Phenomenon,” exploring how the company leveraged Dubai’s business environment, digital infrastructure, and regional connectivity to scale its operations and expand its market presence. The session will also highlight the opportunities emerging for technology companies building products and platforms from Dubai for regional and international growth. 

Panel Discussion 

By combining world class infrastructure with transparent regulation, Dubai offers global innovators a unique proposition: a city-scale co-developer ready to turn ambitious blueprints into deployed industrial reality. As a catalyst for scale, Dubai bridges the gap between laboratory potential and market adoption through a live environment where solutions are tested, refined, and scaled under real world conditions.  

Key ecosystem architects join leading voices in innovation to explore how this powerful synergy of policy, capital, and practice is accelerating the journey from prototype to global impact. The dialogue will focus on the “Dubai Model” of shared success: where transparent policy meets advanced manufacturing, enabling companies not only to test in Dubai, but to anchor long term growth.  

Format: pre-scheduled meetings 

The Connect Hub facilitates high-impact networking throughout the day. Providing a dedicated space for pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings, it allows Chinese and Dubai delegates to move beyond the plenary sessions and engage in direct, private discussions to explore collaboration, investment, and market expansion. 

Format: Ecosystem Roundtable 

Participants: Chinese Agentic AI Pioneers; Dubai VCs/PEs/Family Businesses 

In May 2026, Dubai Chamber’s announced a landmark vision to lead the global commercial integration of Agentic AI. This roundtable responds directly to the two-year transformation framework launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.  

This strategic briefing will emphasise how Chinese AI innovators can anchor themselves within Dubai’s new Agentic AI Incubators and tap into an ecosystem designed to catalyse a paradigm shift in private sector productivity.   

• For Chinese AI Pioneers: A direct roadmap to “Market-First” landing. Understand the specialized training tracks and how to deploy “self-leading” models across Dubai’s diverse private industries. 
• For Dubai Ecosystem Architects: A frontline view of world-class, enterprise-ready AI agents. Explore how to leverage Chinese tech prowess to expand business volumes and secure Dubai’s competitive edge as the world’s most AI-integrated economy. 

Format: Investor-led Roundtable 

Participants: Chinese VCs/PEs with Portfolio Companies; Dubai VCs/PEs/Family Businesses 

Capital is the ultimate accelerator for globalization. This meeting redefines the role of Chinese VCs and PEs from financial backers to navigators of corporate expansion. It gathers leading investment institutions and their high-potential portfolio companies for a candid dialogue with Dubai’s leading family businesses and investors. This is not a fundraising pitch, rather, it is a strategic exploration of market fit and synergy. 

• For Chinese Enterprises: Explore “What works in Dubai?” by engaging with local capital on business models, local partnerships, and adaptation strategies. 
• For Dubai Investors: Gain a frontline view of China’s top-tier innovations and explore how to collaborate with or support these mature startups in the MENA region. 

The goal is to foster a post-investment internationalization ecosystem where capital supports not just funding, but market success.