Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, announced today that it successfully attracted 53 companies to Dubai during Q1 2025, representing a 39 percent increase compared to 38 companies attracted in Q1 2024.
Throughout the three-month period, the chamber continued to play a pivotal role in attracting foreign direct investment to the emirate and cementing Dubai’s position as a leading global business destination.
“We are continuing to strengthen our efforts to attract foreign direct investment to Dubai and showcase the emirate’s competitive advantages and wide range of opportunities for companies and investors from across the globe,” stated Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai International Chamber.
Chamber attracts 11 multinational companies
The new global companies that came to Dubai included 11 multinational companies (MNCs), marking a 120 percent increase over the five attracted in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, 42 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were attracted during Q1 2025, representing YoY growth of 27 percent compared to the 33 attracted during the same period last year.
“Dubai International Chamber’s network of international offices plays a vital role in strengthening Dubai’s global investment appeal by attracting businesses from around the world. These companies are leveraging Dubai’s competitive advantages to accelerate their local and international expansion, further strengthening the emirate’s status as a leading global hub for trade and investments,” added bin Sulayem.
In Q1 2025, Dubai International Chamber hosted a high-level business networking event on the sidelines of Gulfood 2025. The event was attended by 415 representatives from leading local and international companies in the food and beverage sector. The session offered insights into the latest data and trends shaping the UAE’s food industry and highlighted Dubai’s strategic role as a global center for food trade and production.
18,160 new companies join commerce chamber
Dubai Chambers also revealed this week that the Chamber of Commerce saw 18,160 new companies join during the three-month period, underlining Dubai’s growing appeal as a global business hub with a fully integrated ecosystem. The chamber also successfully supported the expansion of 28 local companies into new global markets during Q1 2025, representing a 75 percent increase compared to the 16 companies supported during the same period last year.
The value of exports and re-exports by the chamber’s members achieved year-over-year growth of 16.8 percent to reach AED86 billion ($23.41 billion) in Q1 2025. During the same period, the chamber also issued 204,240 Certificates of Origin, marking an increase of 7 percent compared to Q1 2024. The chamber also issued and received 1,656 ATA Carnets with a combined value of around AED984 million.
