The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has reported more than 16% growth in Chinese businesses joining its community over the past 12 months, bringing the total number of Chinese companies in the district to over 1,000. The milestone comes as UAE–China trade surpasses $102 billion, reflecting the countries’ strengthening economic partnership.
The announcement was made during DMCC’s latest “Made For Trade Live” (MFTL) roadshow to China, which held events across Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou – three of the nation’s fastest-growing hubs for technology and advanced manufacturing.
Five Consecutive Years of Double-Digit Growth
DMCC has achieved double-digit annual growth in Chinese company registrations for five consecutive years, with increases of 19% in 2022, 21% in 2023, 17% in 2024, and now 16% in 2025. The latest surge was driven primarily by technology-focused firms specialising in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, Web3, and digital infrastructure.
Today, DMCC hosts over 130 Chinese technology companies within a wider ecosystem of more than 3,400 tech firms, providing a strong platform for global expansion through Dubai.
Deepening UAE–China Economic Relations
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, said the growth underscores deepening collaboration between the two nations.
“China is now the UAE’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $102 billion last year, and that figure projected to double by 2030,” Bin Sulayem stated.
“This growth is underpinned by cooperation across trade, investment, and innovation – particularly in AI and other frontier technologies. We have witnessed double-digit annual growth in Chinese companies joining DMCC for five straight years, including more than 16% in the past 12 months. Today, DMCC is home to more than 1,000 Chinese companies – over 135 of them in technology – as we continue to refine our value proposition as the district of choice for ambitious Chinese firms expanding globally from Dubai.”
China–UAE Innovation and Global Expansion
More than 750 Chinese business leaders attended the roadshow sessions, which focused on AI, blockchain, and tokenised assets – areas of increasing alignment between the UAE and China.
Beyond trade, bilateral relations are expanding into co-investment, innovation, and global market integration, with DMCC playing a pivotal role. The free zone accounts for 15% of Dubai’s annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and contributes around 7% of the emirate’s GDP.
As both countries strengthen collaboration through BRICS+ and accelerate their focus on the digital economy, DMCC continues to attract China’s leading technology, manufacturing, and services firms — reinforcing Dubai’s position as a gateway for trade, investment, and innovation between East and West.
