Hong Kong trade office in Dubai marks fifth anniversary, deepens Middle East ties
Hong Kong's trade office in Dubai celebrated its fifth anniversary on 12 November 2026, highlighting strong economic growth and cultural exchanges with the UAE. Bilateral trade between Hong Kong and the UAE has grown at an average annual rate of 8.2 per cent since the office opened.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's trade office in Dubai celebrated its fifth anniversary on 12 November 2026, with Director Chan Sheung-man highlighting deepened economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the Middle East. The office, the first of its kind for Hong Kong in the region, covers the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Speaking at an anniversary dinner, Chan said that since the office opened in October 2021, high-level visits between Hong Kong and Gulf states have increased significantly. Bilateral trade between Hong Kong and the UAE has grown at an average annual rate of 8.2 per cent, he noted. The UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East, and Hong Kong has become one of the fastest-growing major markets for UAE non-oil exports.
Chan described Hong Kong as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the Middle East, mainland China and Asian markets, leveraging its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle. He said Hong Kong serves as a key international platform for China's Belt and Road Initiative, creating opportunities for cooperation with the UAE and other Gulf states.
Beyond trade, Chan highlighted growing cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The UAE has participated in the Hong Kong Book Fair, and young people from both sides have engaged in exchange visits. The trade office has hosted a Hong Kong film festival in the UAE for five consecutive years. This year, a dragon boat race in Dubai Bay attracted 62 teams from all seven emirates.
The anniversary dinner featured a video showcasing milestones in Hong Kong-UAE cooperation, including high-level visits, financial and trade links, and cultural exchanges. Entertainment included a dance performance by humanoid robots from a Hong Kong-based innovation and technology company, and a cross-cultural musical performance by The Saffron, a Hong Kong-Middle Eastern music group that blends Chinese, Western and Middle Eastern instruments.
Guests at the event included Zeng Jixin, China's ambassador to the UAE; Ou Boqian, China's consul-general in Dubai; Ali Abdullah Sharafi, assistant undersecretary for international financial relations at the UAE Ministry of Finance; Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, chairman of the UAE Banks Federation and former speaker of the Federal National Council; and other senior officials from the UAE and Dubai.
