Dubai Chambers has announced the launch of the Dubai Business Forum, a key global event that creates exciting opportunities to accelerate the growth of trade and investments between the Middle East and South Africa. Hosted under the theme ‘Shifting Economic Power: Dubai and the Future of Global Trade,’ the forum will take place from 1–2 November 2023.
The transformational two-day forum will bring together key public and private sector stakeholders from across Africa and the world to forge partnerships, cultivate international networks, and engage in strategic dealmaking. In recent years, Dubai has emerged as an increasingly attractive hub for South African companies looking to expand globally.
South Africa is the UAE’s top trading partner on the African continent and the second-largest FDI host in Sub-Sahara Africa. According to Dubai Customs statistics, non-oil trade between South Africa and Dubai achieved year-on-year growth of 11.5% in 2022 to reach a total of AED 22.3 billion.
His Excellency Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, said: “This prestigious event will serve as a catalyst for change by creating an unrivalled platform for networking and deal-making that will empower business leaders from across the globe and reinforce Dubai’s position at the heart of the global economy. We look forward to hosting insightful sessions that will unlock new opportunities for growth in trade and investment and transform the future of business.”
In June this year, Dubai International Chamber – one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers – launched an office in Johannesburg, bringing its total number of offices in Africa to six. The new office provides on-ground assistance to South African companies seeking to enter the Dubai market and expand internationally through the emirate.
Dubai’s strategic location as a global gateway for business and international trade positions it as the ideal venue to host an event of this significance. Recognised as one of the world’s leading centres for innovation and partnerships, the emirate serves as a commercial bridge connecting continents that drives economic growth and global collaboration.
As part of Dubai Business Forum, Dubai Chambers is also unveiling ‘The Deals Hub’ to unlock global trade and investment opportunities, introducing a dedicated dealmaking space where businesses can come to do business. The Deals Hub will host a full spectrum of agreements including major partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, large investments and fundraising rounds, government contracts, cross-border trade agreements, and memorandums of understanding.
