Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE), one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has successfully concluded a week-long roadshow in five cities across China.

The visit brought together more than 200 digital companies at events in Shanghai and Shenzhen and featured over 55 business meetings aimed at attracting multinational companies (MNCs) to expand into Dubai.

Participants in the meetings included MNCs with a combined market capitalisation of more than $10 billion.

The roadshow was aimed at further strengthening cooperation between Dubai and China’s dynamic business communities, as well as encouraging participants to attend the upcoming Expand North Star event in the emirate.

Led by Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the visiting delegation arranged more than 55 meetings in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hainan, Jinan, and Beijing with the goal of introducing Chinese companies to Dubai’s digital ecosystem and facilitating their expansion into the emirate.

The group also met with representatives from Shanghai Caohejing Hi-Tech Park Innovation Centre, the city’s largest technology park that is home to over 16,000 tech companies.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “This highly successful roadshow created an effective platform to attract digital companies to Dubai and marks another important step on our journey to establish the emirate as the global capital of the digital economy, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Our delegation participated in productive meetings with government officials, incubators and accelerators, and investors to strengthen cooperation with Dubai, as well as startups seeking to leverage the emirate as a gateway for their global ambitions.”

Lootah added: “China remains a priority market for us, and the chamber will continue to play an instrumental role in attracting leading digital companies and talent to Dubai and ensuring they can thrive in the emirate.”

As part of the roadshow, the chamber hosted two Expand North Star pitch competitions in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The events attracted the participation of more than 200 innovative tech startups, with two winners selected to receive a full sponsorship package to attend the prestigious event.

Taking place in Dubai from Oct.15-18, Expand North Star is the world’s largest gathering for tech startups. The event will showcase exciting growth opportunities within the digital sector in Dubai and serve as a strategic catalyst to shape the future of the digital economy, both in the emirate and across the globe.

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy plays a pivotal role in consolidating the emirate’s digital leadership by attracting international companies and specialised talent to Dubai and ensuring their contribution to the emirate’s prosperity. The chamber has launched a series of landmark initiatives to support the growth of the digital economy including hosting events for unicorns and partnering with the renowned North Star Dubai platform.

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global leader in digital economy, attract specialised talent, leading companies and new investments, and create a stimulating environment that supports the growth of digital companies. The chamber was established by a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Earlier this month Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE), one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has hosted more than 20 government entities and departments for a special workshop to discuss the challenges facing the digital industries. The session explored potential solutions aimed at fostering a thriving digital ecosystem that creates new opportunities and contributes to a sustainable digital economy and an enhanced quality of life in Dubai and the UAE.

The meeting followed a series of interactive workshops conducted by the chamber during the first quarter of this year, which focused on a variety of areas within the digital economy including Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, esports and gaming, healthtech, and ecommerce. The sessions explored some of the key challenges impacting the targeted sectors, with the goal of developing appropriate solutions to support companies operating in these industries to improve their performance and boost their competitiveness.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “Our dialogue with relevant government entities is critical to enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to further strengthen the emirate’s position as a global capital of the digital economy.