Dubai Chamber of Commerce wrapped up the Ethiopia leg of its dual-country trade mission with a record-setting 510 bilateral business meetings in Addis Ababa, the highest single-destination tally since the chamber launched its "New Horizons" initiative in 2023.
The meetings connected Dubai-based companies with Ethiopian counterparts across 12 sectors, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, oil and gas, construction materials, and textiles. A delegation of 21 Dubai firms participated, spanning both established industries and high-growth segments.
Central to the mission was the Dubai–Ethiopia Business Connect forum, hosted in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, and the Ethiopian Investment Commission. The forum drew 669 senior officials and business leaders from both countries.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said the mission was designed to open direct channels between businesses and unlock partnership opportunities in both markets, while supporting the global expansion of Dubai-based companies and growing the emirate's non-oil foreign trade.
The numbers behind the bilateral relationship reflect that ambition. Non-oil trade between Dubai and Ethiopia reached AED 22.3 billion in 2025, a year-on-year surge of 236.6 percent. Ethiopian business presence in Dubai is also growing, with 91 new Ethiopian companies joining the chamber in Q1 2026 alone, bringing total active Ethiopian membership to 1,676 by end of March.
The forum also featured a presentation by the Ethiopian Investment Commission on market entry opportunities for foreign investors, positioning Ethiopia as an emerging destination for companies looking to expand into East Africa.
The trade mission to Ghana and Ethiopia forms part of Dubai Chamber's broader push to deepen economic ties across African markets.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
