Abu Dhabi continues to advance its global economic agenda by expanding strategic partnerships with leading international markets. Following a high-level visit to China led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), Abu Dhabi announced a set of new agreements designed to accelerate collaboration between government entities and private-sector leaders across both markets.
For investors and businesses evaluating the UAE—particularly Abu Dhabi—these developments reinforce the emirate's positioning as a stable, globally connected platform for long-term growth.
A key outcome of the visit was a strategic cooperation agreement between the Abu Dhabi Government and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. The cooperation framework covers a wide scope of sectors, including:
The agreement provides an institutional pathway to deepen Abu Dhabi-China coordination and translate shared priorities into actionable initiatives.
Over a six-day programme, the Abu Dhabi delegation held bilateral engagements with senior government officials and key business leaders in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. This format reflects a clear intent: strengthen relationships in China's most influential commercial and innovation centres while expanding investor access to Abu Dhabi's ecosystem.
In parallel, the delegation explored opportunities with leading Chinese corporates and institutions spanning technology, mobility, industrials, and finance—highlighting Abu Dhabi's focus on high-growth clusters and emerging industries.
Two Abu Dhabi institutions played a central role in formalising new collaboration platforms:
During the visit, they signed agreements with prominent Chinese entities focused on enhancing investment visibility, strengthening market intelligence, and supporting cross-border growth strategies. For international investors, this matters because stronger information flows and institutional coordination typically reduce friction—improving how quickly capital can identify, assess, and enter opportunities.
To translate government-level cooperation into commercial outcomes, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce. The objective is straightforward: enable smoother trade and investment collaboration while supporting Chinese companies that are evaluating Abu Dhabi as a regional base.
The visit also featured an Abu Dhabi-Shanghai business forum that enabled direct B2B engagement, providing a practical channel for partnerships and new market entry discussions.
