Dubai and Italy are strengthening economic ties through a new business partnership designed to expand trade, investment and technology cooperation, as bilateral non-oil trade reached approximately US$13.9 billion in 2025.
Dubai Chambers has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assolombarda, Italy’s largest regional business association, representing about 7,000 companies across Milan, Lodi, Monza and Brianza, and Pavia. The agreement seeks to create new opportunities for companies from both markets while strengthening institutional and commercial links.
The MoU was signed during a business seminar organised by Dubai Chambers at its headquarters in collaboration with Assolombarda. The event brought together about 80 representatives from companies operating in Dubai and members of the Italian business association.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said the partnership would support greater international cooperation and enable businesses to identify opportunities in priority sectors.
“We remain committed to deepening ties between companies in Dubai and Italy and opening new avenues for cooperation, investment, and shared growth,” he said.
The agreement provides for business delegation visits, joint events and activities aimed at facilitating the exchange of expertise and strengthening commercial cooperation. It also seeks to help companies identify new markets and develop partnerships in sectors of mutual interest.
A major component of the partnership is cooperation between family businesses. The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, operating under Dubai Chambers, will work with the Assolombarda Family Business Network to promote knowledge sharing, exchange best practices and strengthen connections among family-owned enterprises.
Alvise Biffi, President of Assolombarda, said the agreement would create new expansion opportunities for the association’s more than 7,000 member companies, particularly by strengthening Dubai’s role as a hub for Italian manufacturing and services in the Gulf.
He said the partnership would include cooperation between family-business networks and the establishment of an Annual Business Roundtable to maintain structured dialogue.
Assolombarda also plans to establish an operational office in Dubai, which Biffi said would further strengthen industrial and technological cooperation between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The partnership comes as commercial relations between Dubai and Italy continue to expand. Bilateral non-oil trade increased by 18 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year, reaching AED51.1 billion, equivalent to approximately US$13.9 billion.
Italian business participation in Dubai has also increased significantly. The number of Italian companies registered as active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce grew by more than 400 per cent over five years to reach 1,700 by the end of 2025. Another 160 Italian companies joined during the first half of 2026.
The Dubai seminar included a delegation of 33 Italian companies and discussions on sectors with potential for increased cooperation. Participants examined Dubai’s business environment, infrastructure, strategic location and investment opportunities as factors supporting the expansion of Italian companies into Gulf and international markets.
The discussions also focused on digital transformation and emerging technologies, including Agentic AI, and their potential to improve operational efficiency, business decision-making and innovation.
Participants highlighted the importance of stronger links between established companies, start-ups and investors through joint ventures, incubators and other collaborative platforms.
Innovation was also discussed alongside the long-term sustainability of family businesses. Participants considered how family-owned companies can preserve their institutional legacy while adopting modern technologies and business models needed to remain competitive.
The seminar brought together senior Assolombarda representatives, including Vice President for Internationalization Veronica Squinzi, Small Industry President Mattia Macellari, Young Entrepreneurs Group President Federico Chiarini and President’s Delegate for Circular Economy and Environmental Technologies Massimo Di Amato.
The Dubai-Italy partnership therefore extends beyond traditional trade promotion, placing greater emphasis on technology, investment, entrepreneurship and business-to-business cooperation. With trade expanding and Italian corporate presence in Dubai increasing, the MoU provides a framework for both sides to develop more structured commercial links and explore opportunities across regional and global markets.
