UAE-Zhejiang Trade Soars 20% to $9.3B in H1 2025

Bilateral trade between the United Arab Emirates and China’s Zhejiang province surged by nearly 20 percent during the first half of 2025, reaching a substantial $9.34 billion. This impressive growth was announced by Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi, the UAE Consul-General in Shanghai, at a major international conference on digital economy cooperation. The event was held alongside the Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, reinforcing the strong economic ties between the two regions. Al Naqbi confirmed that the UAE remains Zhejiang’s most significant trading partner in West Asia, a relationship underscored by total bilateral trade hitting $16.75 billion the previous year.

A standout feature of this trade relationship is the explosive growth in electric vehicle exports. Shipments of EVs from Zhejiang’s Ningbo port to the UAE skyrocketed by an astonishing 273 percent in the first six months of 2025, totaling 3.68 billion yuan. This remarkable increase has solidified the UAE’s position as the single largest export market for electric vehicles from the Ningbo port. The Consul-General pointed to this as evidence of the deepening and diversifying trade links.

The UAE’s appeal as a strategic investment hub for companies from Zhejiang was another key point of discussion. Al Naqbi highlighted the example of CHNT Group, which has established a comprehensive photovoltaic supply chain within the UAE to serve broader regional markets. He further elaborated on the factors that make the country a magnet for international business, including its status as the Middle East’s most competitive economy. This is driven by open economic policies, a strong focus on attracting global talent, and major investments in the digital economy. The scale of the Chinese commercial presence is significant, with the UAE currently hosting over 16,500 Chinese trade licenses and a community of approximately 350,000 Chinese residents.

Concurrently, the UAE is making a notable impression at the Global Digital Trade Expo with a dedicated national pavilion. The exhibit is designed to showcase the nation’s leadership in technological innovation. A particular highlight has been a highly versatile robot developed by Legend Holding Group. This advanced machine can perform a wide array of functions, from security patrols and firefighting to product delivery and customer service interactions. It quickly became a crowd favorite, captivating visitors with its agility and ability to communicate using gestures, sign language, and even spoken Chinese phrases.

During the pavilion’s inauguration ceremony, executives from Legend Group provided detailed briefings to senior officials from both the UAE and China. They outlined the robot’s development, its current service capabilities, and its anticipated role in shaping future technological landscapes. Waseem Khalayleh, the brand manager at Legend Holding Group, shared that one unit has already been delivered to the UAE. A broader deployment across the country is planned for 2026, following the finalization of all necessary service programming.

Khalayleh also emphasized that Legend, which operates from the Jebel Ali Free Zone, contributes to the UAE’s green energy objectives. Through strategic partnerships focused on electric vehicle services and other sustainable initiatives, the company is helping to cement the UAE’s reputation as a central hub for innovation and forward-thinking economic development.

(Source: Economy Middle East)