Page 345 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/26/25, 4:32 PM Expo to strengthen economic ties between countries on digital trade

Al Saleh said UAE-China ties had expanded significantly over the past four decades, making

the UAE China’s top non-oil trading partner in the Middle East and Africa and a gateway for
more than 60 percent of China’s trade with the region. China is now the UAE’s largest global

trading partner, reflecting the depth of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He added that the digital economy currently accounts for about 12 percent of the UAE’s non-oil
GDP, with plans to double that share to 20 percent by 2031 as the country strengthens its role

as a global hub for advanced technologies and digital investment. The UAE was also the first
country to appoint a minister of artificial intelligence in 2017.

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025, the UAE ranked 10th globally for
inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, achieving an unprecedented $45.6 billion in FDI
inflows.

Al Saleh highlighted that Chinese investment in the UAE totals about $9 billion, while more than
16,500 Chinese companies operate in the country, many in digital trade and advanced
technologies.

He also invited Chinese firms in digital trade and emerging technologies to view the UAE as a
strategic launchpad into Middle Eastern, African and Asian markets.

The UAE pavilion at the expo features ten government and private exhibitors showcasing
national initiatives in digital transformation, AI, FinTech, and smart government services.

The event runs until 29th September at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Centre,
covering 155,000 square metres - the largest edition since the expo’s launch in 2022. More than

1,700 companies are taking part, including 360 international exhibitors, with over 40,000
professional visitors expected, 10,000 of them from abroad.

Meanwhile in April 2025, the UAE Ministry of Economy has signed a series of Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with several competent national authorities in the realm of anti-money
laundering and countering terrorism financing, including the Economic Security Centre of Dubai
(ESCD) and the Dubai Land Department (DLD). These agreements are designed to boost

https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2025/09/25/expo-to-strengthen-economic-ties-between-countries-on-digital-trade 3/4