Ahead of the Dubai Business Forum in Shenzhen on October 14, the head of Dubai Chambers said Chinese companies are forging ever-closer links with the emirate across business expansion, technology development, and regional growth.
The 2026 Dubai Business Forum marks the second time the forum has been held in China, following its 2024 edition in Beijing. This year's event will spotlight emerging sectors including artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and CEO of Dubai Chambers, noted that Shenzhen and Dubai share similarities in science and technology development, and said the forum is expected to bring the two cities closer together.
"Shenzhen has been growing very fast as a tech hub in the Greater Bay Area and China as a whole. I think the fast growth that the city went through, it reminds me of Dubai and how Dubai grows fast. And I think this goes back to the dedication of people, the openness of the economy, and especially [the willingness] to try out new technologies," he said.
Data released by Dubai Chambers in September show that the number of Chinese companies joining the chamber jumped 190 percent between 2021 and 2025, surpassing 6,400 by the end of June this year. A growing number of Chinese firms are relocating regional headquarters, business centers, and technology centers to Dubai, spanning new energy vehicles, communications, cloud computing, and digital services.
Beyond simply selling products abroad, Chinese enterprises are looking to expand their businesses onto the global stage.
"We noticed an increased appetite from Chinese technologies to use Dubai as a launchpad for them in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, Africa, and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. We believe that the connectivity that Dubai has with fast-growing markets such as the MENA region, Africa, and CIS countries will definitely create value for Chinese companies," Lootah said.
Dubai Chambers head expects tighter business links with China
The UN Security Council on Friday held its sixth straw poll on candidates vying to become the next UN secretary-general.
"The sixth round of straw polls has taken place," said Aglaia Balta, Greece's permanent representative to the United Nations, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of October.
Each candidate will be informed of the results through the permanent representatives of nominating member states. The president of the UN General Assembly will also be informed that the poll has been conducted, Balta told reporters after the secret vote.
Security Council straw polls on secretary-general candidates are informal closed-door ballots used to determine the viability of the candidates. Their results are not officially released.
Through the polls, the Security Council selects a candidate to recommend to the General Assembly for appointment as the next UN secretary-general.
Security Council members were believed to receive one ballot per candidate, containing the candidate's name followed by three options: "encouraged," "discouraged" and "no opinion expressed."
To win the Security Council's recommendation, a candidate needs to gain at least nine "encouraged" votes and no "discouraged" votes from any of the five permanent members of the council.
Seven candidates remain in the race: Ivonne A-Baki, a former Ecuadorian minister and diplomat; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former president of the UN General Assembly and former foreign minister and defense minister of Ecuador; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica and current secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; Olara Otunnu of Uganda, a former UN under-secretary-general; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's permanent representative to the United Nations; Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal.
Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term expires at the end of this year. His successor is scheduled to take office on Jan. 1, 2027.
UN Security Council holds 6th straw poll on secretary-general candidates
