The Dubai delegation numbered 112, the largest overseas business group Dubai Chambers had sent to that point.
Representatives of Chinese companies approached Raja Easa Al Gurg after hearing a presentation about her family business at the Shenzhen forum. They asked about possible cooperation. Al Gurg asked them to send details so she could connect them with relevant people in the group. She said discussions could develop through follow-up and an exchange of information.
Dubai Chambers organised the Dubai Business Forum in China in Shenzhen on 14 October 2026. The Shenzhen Chamber of International Commerce supported the event. The Guangzhou Chamber of Commerce, under the China Chamber of International Commerce, also provided support. The forum brought together 854 Chinese investors and business leaders, alongside the 112-member Dubai delegation. Its theme was "Momentum at Scale: Accelerating Shared Success."
The programme included 15 sessions and 22 expert speakers. Discussions covered trade and investment, while technology sessions included artificial intelligence. Dubai Chambers presented the forum as a way to turn business contacts into commercial and investment partnerships, as GCC Business Watch reported.
New links through the forum
Three Chinese businesswomen joined the Dubai Business Women Council during the forum. Council chair Raja Easa Al Gurg said their decision followed contacts between the Chinese delegation and Dubai's business community. A visit by the China Business Women Council to Dubai was expected in the coming weeks. Al Gurg said the forum gave women from both sides a chance to build partnerships and explore commercial opportunities.
The forum took place against the backdrop of substantial trade ties. Bilateral non-oil trade exceeded $500 billion over the previous decade and rose by 23% in 2025, according to figures reported by Arab News.
Al Gurg credited Dubai Chambers with helping local businesses build an international presence and introduce Dubai's business environment to potential partners in China. A separate opportunity for SME founders to pitch to investors was covered in Shark Tank Dubai.
A council focused on business development
The council has about 500 members, with eligibility extending beyond the UAE. Membership is open to Emirati women and expatriate women. Applicants based outside the UAE may also apply. Members include business owners and partners, entrepreneurs, and women working or serving as executives in the public or private sector. Eligible freelancers can join too.
Since its establishment in 2002, the council has introduced Emirati women to international audiences and presented their ambitions and achievements. Between 2002 and 2006, it arranged visits to different countries to present the role of Emirati women. The council later began inviting international delegations to Dubai, where visitors could meet local businesswomen directly. It has since received delegations from around the world.
The council supports professional and leadership development, while giving members ways to build contacts and collaborate. It began offering artificial intelligence training about four years ago. Al Gurg also described a mentoring experience in which participants accompanied her at work for a full day. They watched how she organised her work, prepared for meetings, and led them.
Al Gurg said recognition in rankings of the world's leading businesswomen had encouraged her to keep learning and review her performance. She said progress brought a responsibility to maintain and build on that standing.
