UAE and Shanghai sign business deal to boost mutual investments

SHANGHAI: The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board (Invest Shanghai) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Chamber's participation in the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF), organised by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).

The MoU represents a significant step towards translating the growing economic ties between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai into practical initiatives and projects that support business growth and expand mutual investments. It also contributes to building sustainable partnerships between the business communities of both cities, further solidifying their positions as global hubs for trade, investment, and innovation.

The MoU was signed by Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Xue Feng, President of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board (Invest Shanghai).

The signing of the MoU comes amid growing economic and commercial ties between Abu Dhabi and China. Chinese companies are actively operating across a wide range of sectors in the Emirate, including trade, construction, manufacturing, and financial services. New memberships by Chinese companies with the Chamber increased by 85 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024. This underscores Abu Dhabi's growing attractiveness to Chinese investment and its role as a major business hub in the region.

The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation focused on the exchange of information relating to business environments and investment opportunities, facilitating market entry and enhancing investor services, alongside the organisation of economic events and specialised forums that support engagement between the business communities in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

Areas of cooperation also include joint investment promotion, leveraging both parties’ international networks and overseas offices, and organising reciprocal trade missions, contributing to the exploration of new mutually beneficial opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two sides.

Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi said, "The MoU with the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board represents an important milestone in strengthening the economic partnership between Abu Dhabi and China and translating the growing relations between the two sides into initiatives and projects that create tangible value for the business communities. Through this partnership, we seek to establish more effective channels for communication and collaboration between investors and businesses in both markets, helping to stimulate bilateral investment and expand commercial opportunities."

He added, "The Abu Dhabi Chamber continues to play its role in empowering the private sector to capitalise on promising global opportunities and enhance its access to high-growth strategic markets. This MoU is aligned with our efforts to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for business and investment, and as a key gateway for companies seeking regional and international expansion."

Xue Feng said, "We are pleased to establish an institutional framework that supports our strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Chamber and strengthens the economic ties between Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. This MoU will help broaden the exchange of expertise and investment opportunities between the two sides, enabling companies to achieve growth and benefit from the opportunities presented by an increasingly dynamic global economy. We look forward to translating this partnership into tangible outcomes and joint projects that benefit the business communities of both cities."

Meanwhile in October 2025, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Italy’s national promotional institution, during the Chamber’s participation in the UAE-Italy Economic Forum in Rome. The forum was organised by the Italy-UAE Business Council in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

The MoU was signed by Shamis Al Dhaheri, Second Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, and Dario Scannapieco, Chief Executive Officer of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP).

This strategic agreement builds on the efforts of both parties to strengthen economic cooperation and facilitate high-quality investments across key sectors such as advanced industries, energy, technology, food and water security, biotechnology, logistics, and tourism. It also aims to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand into new markets.

The partnership holds particular significance given CDP’s vital role in supporting Italian enterprises and driving their international expansion, alongside Abu Dhabi’s advanced business ecosystem and competitive investment climate that continue to attract investors from around the world.

Italy is the UAE’s leading non-oil trading partner within the European Union, with bilateral trade reaching Dhs51.8 billion ($14.1 billion) in 2024, a 21 per cent increase compared to the previous year, reflecting the resilience and continued growth of bilateral economic relations between the two nations. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Italy also recorded strong performance in the first half of 2025, reaching approximately Dhs25.6 billion (EUR6 billion).

The MoU aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision to diversify its economy, strengthen the role of the private sector, and attract high-value international investments. It also supports industrial collaboration in innovation, advanced technology, and clean energy.

Shamis Al Dhaheri said, “This partnership marks an important step in reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global platform for high-quality investments and a key gateway to regional and international markets. We are confident that this MoU will drive innovation, advance high-value industries, and empower companies and entrepreneurs in both countries to seize emerging opportunities and build a more diversified and competitive economic future.”

Dario Scannapieco, called the MoU with the Abu Dhabi Chamber a major step forward in expanding the scope of economic cooperation between Italy and the UAE. “It provides a tangible opportunity to strengthen the presence of Italian companies in a regional market renowned for its competitiveness and sustainable growth. We believe that our collaboration with partners in Abu Dhabi will pave the way for effective partnerships in industrial, technological, and renewable energy sectors, and promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between both sides,” he said.

The Abu Dhabi Chamber continues to forge international partnerships that create new avenues for growth, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a preferred global destination for investment, entrepreneurship, and future industries. These efforts also aim to enhance the international reach of the UAE’s private sector.

Under the MoU, both parties will collaborate to support the expansion of Italian and Emirati companies and improve their access to promising markets.

This includes exchanging information on investment opportunities and trade policies, facilitating direct engagement between private sector institutions in both countries, and promoting joint initiatives in priority sectors. The agreement also seeks to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to sustainable economic growth by enabling businesses to innovate, expand, and compete regionally and globally.

WAM