Dubai Chamber Achieves Milestone with 510 Business Meetings in Ethiopia

Dubai Chamber of Commerce proudly concluded the Ethiopian segment of its trade mission to Ghana and Ethiopia, facilitating an impressive total of 510 bilateral business meetings in Addis Ababa between companies based in Dubai and their Ethiopian counterparts.

These meetings have fostered new avenues for collaboration across numerous vital sectors, such as automotive, construction, electronics, engineering, FMCG, food and beverages, interior design, mining and metals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, printing and packaging, textiles, and ready-made garments.

The Chamber highlighted that these 510 B2B meetings represent the highest figure achieved since the commencement of its “New Horizons” initiative in 2023, designed to promote the global expansion of Dubai businesses while fortifying international trade ties.

During the visit, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce orchestrated the ‘Dubai–Ethiopia Business Connect’ forum in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, and the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

The forum drew 669 attendees, encompassing high-ranking government officials, business executives, investors, alongside representatives from both local and international enterprises. Discussions focused on investment prospects, enhancing trade partnerships, and forging new business opportunities between Dubai and Ethiopia.

Notable attendees at the forum included H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; H.E. Amha Hailegiorgis, Deputy Director General for Middle East, Asia, and Pacific Affairs of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UAE; Dr. Aynalem Abayneh, Vice President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations; Eng. Abebe Gurmesa, Vice President of Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations; and Rashed Abdulla Alzoy from the UAE Embassy in Ethiopia.

H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah reaffirmed the Chamber's dedication to enhancing economic relations between Dubai and Ethiopia, also emphasizing the trade mission's role in supporting the global growth of Dubai enterprises while contributing to the ongoing expansion of Dubai's non-oil foreign trade sector.

As reported by the Chamber, non-oil trade between Dubai and Ethiopia reached AED 22.3 billion in 2025, achieving a remarkable annual growth of 236.6%.

Furthermore, the Chamber announced that in the first quarter of 2026, 91 new Ethiopian companies joined, raising the total active Ethiopian member companies registered with the Chamber to 1,676 by the end of March 2026.

During the forum, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce showcased the benefits of Dubai’s business landscape and emphasized how Ethiopian firms can leverage Dubai as a gateway to broader regional and international markets. Additionally, officials from the Ethiopian Investment Commission informed attendees about the expanding investment prospects and market access available to foreign investors in Ethiopia.

The trade mission saw representation from 21 Dubai-based companies across various sectors, underscoring the increasing economic partnership between Dubai and Ethiopia.