India tops DCC new business list as 18,486 firms join in 2025

A new analysis by Dubai Chamber of Commerce (DCC), one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has revealed that Indian-owned businesses continued to top the list of new foreign companies joining the chamber during 2025.

A total of 18,486 new members from India joined during the year, representing year-over-year (YoY) growth of 11 per cent. The figures underline Dubai’s enduring appeal and strategic importance as a preferred destination for Indian investors and entrepreneurs.

Pakistan ranked second with 9,138 new companies registered in 2025, an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2024. Egypt followed in third place with 5,043 new companies joining the chamber.

The United Kingdom ranked fourth with 2,733 new companies, reflecting a YoY growth of 5 per cent, while 2,721 Bangladeshi companies joined the chamber last year, with a YoY increase of 15 per cent.

Syria ranked sixth with 1,907 new companies joining in 2025. China came in seventh place with 1,583 new companies, registering 7 per cent YoY growth, while Jordan ranked eighth with 1,325 new businesses. Türkiye secured ninth place with 1,308 new companies, while the United States rounded out the top ten with 1,054 new member companies. With 71,830 new companies joining in 2025, the chamber’s active membership climbed to 292,486 by the end of the year, up from 258,318 in 2024 and representing annual growth of 13.2 per cent.

In terms of sectoral distribution among new members who joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during 2025, the Real Estate, Renting, and Business Services sector ranked first, accounting for 37.6 per cent of new member activity. This is followed by the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector, which accounted for 34.5 per cent.

The Construction sector came third with a share of 17.2 per cent, while the Social and Personal Services sector ranked fourth at 7.9 per cent, followed by the Transport, Storage, and Communications sector in fifth place with 7.2 per cent of new member activity.

Meanwhile Dubai Chambers has enhanced its efforts in providing the business community with access to advanced and alternative banking services.

This initiative is enabled through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with four specialised FinTech companies.

The collaboration aims to empower local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by addressing key operational challenges and growth obstacles through a range of innovative financial solutions.

The MoUs were signed between Dubai Chambers and the fintech companies Mamo, Qashio, Pemo, and Vault. They establish a framework for collaboration between Dubai Chambers and the fintech partners to deliver impactful services for Dubai’s business ecosystem. They will focus on providing SMEs with access to alternative saving accounts, corporate cards, working capital loans, and seamless online payment solutions, which are critical for efficiency and growth in today’s market.

Khalid AlJarwan, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Services at Dubai Chambers, said, “This collaboration with fintech companies is a vital step in our mission to create a more dynamic and inclusive business ecosystem. By providing SMEs with direct access to advanced financial tools, we are actively removing barriers to growth and empowering them to scale with greater efficiency. This initiative aligns with our commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector and solidifying Dubai’s position as a leading global business hub.”

Under the terms of the MoUs, parties will collaborate in organising events and workshops, that promote innovation and digital adoption. The partners will also design and roll out tailored incentive programs and welcome offers to encourage SMEs to adopt modern financial tools, alongside developing educational initiatives and training sessions focused on financial automation and technology.

These collaborations will provide tangible benefits to the SME community. The partnership with Vault offers businesses competitive returns on idle funds, while Qashio and Pemo enable efficient spend management through instantly issued corporate cards. Mamo will allow SMEs to centralise financial functions by enabling seamless payment acceptance, spend management and access to credit.

Meanwhile Dubai Chambers recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, and Stavros Stavrou, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

WAM