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Dubai Chambers and Assolombarda Formed Trade Partnership

The agreement aims to bolster economic ties and support business expansion between Dubai and Italy.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Rows of stacked colorful cargo containers at a busy international deep-water port terminal under bright daylight.
Dubai Chambers and Italy's Assolombarda have finalized a trade partnership to increase bilateral investment and business expansion between the two regions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Dubai Chambers has signed a memorandum of understanding with Assolombarda to advance bilateral trade and investment relations. The partnership includes plans for Assolombarda to open an operational office in Dubai to better support its members.

Why it matters

This agreement aims to strengthen engagement between business communities in both regions, following a period of significant growth in trade and business registration. It builds on cooperation between the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses and the Assolombarda Family Business Network.

Bilateral non-oil trade reached $13.91 billion in 2025, marking an 18 percent increase over the previous year. Assolombarda represents approximately 7,000 companies, while the number of Italian firms registered with the Dubai chamber rose to 1,700 by late 2025.

The players

Dubai Chambers

This is a non-profit organization that supports the business community in Dubai and promotes the emirate as an international trade hub.

Assolombarda

This is a major Italian business association representing thousands of companies across the Milan, Lodi, Monza and Brianza, and Pavia regions.

The details

The partnership provides a framework for coordinating business delegation visits and hosting joint events to promote investment. This collaboration leverages existing ties, as 160 new Italian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first half of 2026 alone.

Timeline

  1. 2024 served as the baseline year for calculating non-oil trade growth.

  2. The total number of Italian companies in the Dubai chamber reached 1,700 by the end of 2025.

  3. During the first half of 2026, 160 new Italian companies joined the Dubai chamber.

  4. The partnership was announced on October 1, 2026.

Market Landscape

This agreement reflects a formalization of the rapid growth in commercial ties between Italy and the UAE over the last several years. By establishing a physical presence, Assolombarda is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the expanding investment flows between the two regions.

Italian companies looking to expand into the Middle East may benefit from easier access to business support and networking opportunities through the new office. Local businesses in Dubai can expect increased engagement and potential collaboration opportunities with Italian partners.

The takeaway

The formalization of this partnership underscores the growing importance of the Dubai-Italy trade corridor for European businesses. Organizations looking to expand internationally should monitor how these bilateral agreements reduce operational friction in new markets.

Further reading

For more on evolving corporate networks and trade partnerships, visit the Openings & Closings section.

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