The United Arab Emirates and China’s Guangdong Province enjoy close and growing ties, supported by the strategic and economic relations between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China. Cooperation spans trade, investment, industry, science and technology, and smart infrastructure, as well as partnerships between cities and the exchange of expertise in urban development and innovation. Friendship city partnerships have been an important avenue for strengthening these ties. This cooperation began in 2012 with the establishment of a partnership between Dubai and Guangzhou, enhancing direct engagement and expanding cooperation at the local level.
In 2018, a Dubai Government delegation led by H.E. Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited Shenzhen. The visit saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for exchanges and cooperation between the two cities. Engagement continued in 2019 through reciprocal visits, including a visit to the UAE by a Shenzhen Government delegation led by Mr. Wang Weizhong, then Secretary of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee. Dubai Government delegations led by H.E. Abdulla Al Basti and H.E. Dawood Al Hajri, then Director General of Dubai Municipality, also visited Shenzhen, strengthening the exchange of expertise and coordination between the relevant entities on both sides.
Friendship city partnerships also expanded to include Abu Dhabi and Guangzhou. In 2020, a Guangzhou Government delegation led by Mr. Wen Guohui, then Mayor of Guangzhou, visited the UAE. The visit marked an important milestone with the signing of an MoU to establish a framework for exchanges and cooperation between the two cities.
Abu Dhabi’s ties with Shenzhen gained further momentum in 2023 and 2024 through visits by official delegations led by H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi. These efforts culminated in the signing of an MoU in 2024, providing an institutional framework to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the exchange of expertise between the two cities.
In the same year, cooperation expanded to include Ras Al Khaimah. Visits to Guangdong Province by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, marked a significant milestone in advancing ties. His Highness’s visits included Dongguan and Shenzhen. An MoU was also signed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Ras Al Khaimah and Guangdong Province, creating further opportunities for economic and investment partnerships and closer institutional ties.
Official visits continued in 2025. An Abu Dhabi Government delegation led by H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, visited Shenzhen, as did a Dubai Government delegation led by H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation. These visits reflect growing interest in exchanging expertise and exploring new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in economic development, innovation, technology, and industries of the future.
In 2018, a Dubai Government delegation led by H.E. Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited Shenzhen. The visit saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for exchanges and cooperation between the two cities. Engagement continued in 2019 through reciprocal visits, including a visit to the UAE by a Shenzhen Government delegation led by Mr. Wang Weizhong, then Secretary of the Communist Party of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee. Dubai Government delegations led by H.E. Abdulla Al Basti and H.E. Dawood Al Hajri, then Director General of Dubai Municipality, also visited Shenzhen, strengthening the exchange of expertise and coordination between the relevant entities on both sides.
Friendship city partnerships also expanded to include Abu Dhabi and Guangzhou. In 2020, a Guangzhou Government delegation led by Mr. Wen Guohui, then Mayor of Guangzhou, visited the UAE. The visit marked an important milestone with the signing of an MoU to establish a framework for exchanges and cooperation between the two cities.
Abu Dhabi’s ties with Shenzhen gained further momentum in 2023 and 2024 through visits by official delegations led by H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi. These efforts culminated in the signing of an MoU in 2024, providing an institutional framework to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the exchange of expertise between the two cities.
In the same year, cooperation expanded to include Ras Al Khaimah. Visits to Guangdong Province by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, marked a significant milestone in advancing ties. His Highness’s visits included Dongguan and Shenzhen. An MoU was also signed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Ras Al Khaimah and Guangdong Province, creating further opportunities for economic and investment partnerships and closer institutional ties.
Official visits continued in 2025. An Abu Dhabi Government delegation led by H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, visited Shenzhen, as did a Dubai Government delegation led by H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation. These visits reflect growing interest in exchanging expertise and exploring new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in economic development, innovation, technology, and industries of the future.
Introduction to UAE-China commerce relations
UAE has maintained good relations with the provinces and autonomous region (Guangdong Province, Hainan Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) within the realm of Consulate General of the UAE in Guangzhou.
Guangdong Province
- The UAE-Guangdong bilateral trade volume has accounted for 25% of UAE-China bilateral trade volume. It has well proved the solid foundation of UAE-China commerce relations and its importance in enhancing UAE-China commerce relations.
- It should be well noted that in 2019, a good number of UAE institutions and enterprises signed multiple agreements and memorandums with corresponding Chinese partners concerning tourism, commerce and other important business sectors.
Hainan Province
- In the past few years, bilateral trade between UAE and Hainan Province has steadily increased. In 2019 in particular, frequent bilateral visits brought about the signing of memorandums about business in various economic sectors, especially in free trade zone.
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regions has made a fair contribution to the enhancement of UAE-China commerce relations. It is expected that at the end of 2019, trade volume between UAE and Guangxi Autonomous Region will have reached more than 0,35 billion US dollars.
- Since its founding, Consulate General of the UAE in Guangzhou has attached much importance to developing relations with provinces and autonomous region within its realm in sectors of economy, trade, investment, culture, consulate services and so on. In cultural sector, Consulate General has attended multiple celebrations, receptions and forums held in South China.
- Consul General has discussed cultural cooperation with Chinese officials and representatives in many different occasions. By way of introducing UAE values and UAE culture, he has encouraged Chinese cultural enterprises and institutions to look for cooperation opportunities with their UAE counterparts.
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