Dubai: Dubai Chambers explored prospects for enhancing trade and investment cooperation between Dubai and European Union countries today during a roundtable with a high-level delegation led by Maro‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦ efcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
According to Emirates News Agency, the roundtable was attended by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; and Leon Delvaux, Director at the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, together with representatives from Dubai and the European private sectors.
Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi emphasized the significance of the European Union as a key player in the global economy and a vital trade partner for the UAE. He highlighted the importance of creating platforms for private sectors to collaborate, particularly in sectors that align with economic diversification objectives. The EU-UAE Investment Roundtable presents an opportunity for business leaders to build relationships and drive trade and investment to new heights.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori remarked on the deep-rooted economic ties between Dubai and the EU, emphasizing their shared interests and commitment to developing a diversified and sustainable economy. The roundtable aimed to advance collaboration in high-potential sectors and identify new avenues for growth. He affirmed Dubai's commitment to supporting European companies and enabling them to expand by leveraging Dubai as a strategic hub to access new opportunities.
The roundtable highlighted the growing economic relations between Dubai and the EU, with the total value of non-oil trade reaching AED 206 billion in 2024, marking an 8% year-on-year growth. Dubai's appeal as a business hub for European investors is evident, with the emirate attracting 380 foreign direct investment projects from EU countries last year, totaling AED 11.3 billion. This reflects a 6.7% increase in the number of projects and an impressive 106% rise in the total value of investment projects.
Dubai's investments in EU countries between 2020 and 2024 amounted to AED 9.5 billion, creating 8,000 jobs in European markets. Additionally, 15,248 companies from EU countries were registered as active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by the end of Q1 2025, showing a 27% year-over-year growth. In 2024 alone, 4,693 new European companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.