Dubai Eyes Investment in the Adria Region

In an exclusive interview with The Region, H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, discusses the promising prospects for economic cooperation between Dubai and the countries of the Adria Region.

As a global business hub, Dubai is poised to foster growth in key sectors such as logistics, tourism, and infrastructure. With ongoing initiatives to enhance business relations through trade missions and partnerships, Lootah outlines how Dubai can contribute to and benefit from the region’s dynamic markets while offering valuable advice to businesses from the Adria Region seeking to expand into Dubai and the UAE.

How do you view the potential for economic cooperation between Dubai and the countries of the Adria Region?

— The potential for economic cooperation between Dubai and the Adria region is substantial. Dubai’s strategic location as a global business hub, coupled with continuing steady economic growth across the Adria region, creates multiple opportunities for collaboration.

At Dubai Chambers, we aim to facilitate these opportunities by providing businesses and investors from Dubai and countries across the Adria region with tailored market insights, business-matching services, and sector-specific guidance.

Which industries across the Adria Region do you see as the most attractive for investment from Dubai, and are there any standout markets within the region?

— The Adria region serves as a key logistics corridor between Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and Asia. Investments in ports, transportation networks, and logistics hubs are growing, presenting opportunities to leverage Dubai’s expertise in these areas.

Other key sectors for investors in Dubai include tourism and hospitality, technology, renewable energy, and agriculture.

Are there any ongoing or planned initiatives by the Dubai Chamber to simultaneously promote business relations with multiple countries in the Adria Region?

— Dubai Chambers continuously engages with markets across the Adria Region through bilateral business forums, trade missions, and MoU agreements.

Our recent trade mission to Serbia brought 13 Dubai-based companies operating in diverse sectors to uncover opportunities for partnerships and business growth. We arranged 180 B2B meetings in Belgrade to promote cooperation between companies from Dubai and Serbia.

Dubai Chambers also signed an MoU with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS). The agreement will enhance collaboration in arranging trade missions, conferences, and business events, as well as the sharing of knowledge and expertise to support growth and innovation.

We look forward to engaging in more impactful events in the region to further strengthen economic ties and promote cross-border opportunities.

What are the primary factors Dubai investors consider when exploring business opportunities in the diverse markets of the Adria Region?

— Dubai investors prioritise several factors when exploring opportunities in the Adria Region, including the ease of doing business, market stability, and access to a skilled talent pool. In addition, there is a focus on sectors that align with Dubai’s economic priorities, such as sustainable tourism, tech-driven innovation, and renewable energy projects.

At Dubai Chambers, we assist by providing Dubai-based businesses and investors with in-depth analysis and market insights, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate the business landscape in the region and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

The Adria Region is known for its tourism potential. How do you see Dubai’s businesses contributing to or benefiting from the tourism and hospitality sectors across the region?

— Dubai’s businesses, particularly in hospitality and real estate development, can contribute significantly to the Adria Region’s tourism sector by investing in resort developments, eco-tourism projects, and tourism infrastructure.

Dubai’s experience in creating world-class tourism hubs positions our investors as valuable partners for developing high-quality and sustainable tourist destinations in the region. Dubai-based tourism operators and travel agencies can also collaborate with their counterparts in the Adria Region to create integrated travel packages, boosting the flow of tourists between the regions.

What advice would you give to businesses from the Adria Region looking to expand into Dubai and the UAE market?

— Dubai’s position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa ensures convenient access to regional and global markets. Our strategic location is complemented by a business-friendly approach and supportive regulatory environment that enable the emirate to serve as a gateway for global growth.

At Dubai Chambers, we are committed to supporting businesses from the Adria region with leveraging the emirate’s competitive advantages throughout every stage of their expansion into Dubai and the wider region. Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, currently operates 31 international offices around the world. This network stands ready to assist businesses from the region with expanding not only into Dubai and the UAE, but globally.

Given Dubai’s vast experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, do you see opportunities for collaboration in infrastructure development across the Adria Region?

— Dubai’s expertise in large-scale infrastructure and urban development projects can be of great value to the Adria Region. There is strong potential for partnerships in developing smart cities, transportation networks, and sustainable urban infrastructure, leveraging Dubai’s best practices in these areas.

Dubai Chambers can facilitate business matching and strategic alliances between the emirate’s leading construction firms and real estate developers in the Adria region, ensuring mutual growth and the exchange of knowledge and expertise.