Hangzhou: The United Arab Emirates participated today in the Digital Economy International Cooperation Matchmaking Conference, held alongside the Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, China. Speaking at the conference, Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi, UAE Consul-General in Shanghai, announced that the UAE has become Zhejiang province’s largest trading partner in West Asia, with bilateral trade reaching $16.75 billion in 2024. Trade between the UAE and Zhejiang continued to expand in the first half of 2025, rising 19.8 percent year-on-year to $9.34 billion.

According to Emirates News Agency, Al Naqbi highlighted that exports of electric vehicles from Zhejiang’s Ningbo port to the UAE surged by 272.97 percent in the first half of 2025, amounting to 3.68 billion yuan. This growth has positioned the UAE as the top export market for electric vehicles from Ningbo port.

The Consul-General also underscored the UAE’s appeal as an investment destination for companies from Zhejiang. He noted the example of CHNT Group, which has established a photovoltaic supply chain in the UAE to cater to regional markets. Al Naqbi pointed out that the UAE is recognized as the most competitive economy in the Middle East, supported by open economic policies, talent acquisition, and substantial investment in the digital economy.

The UAE is currently home to more than 16,500 Chinese trade licenses and approximately 350,000 Chinese residents, further highlighting the strong economic ties between the two regions.