News Desk
DUBAI: Dubai Chambers has recently embarked on a strategic trade mission to Ireland, exploring promising joint trade and investment opportunities with key public and private sector stakeholders. The focus of these engagements was to solidify economic partnerships with the Irish business community and unlock new avenues for growth and cooperation across various strategic sectors.
The mission to Dublin was led by H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, accompanied by H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, alongside a delegation of senior business leaders from Dubai. This visit is part of the innovative ‘Growth Corridors’ initiative, aimed at enhancing trade ties and fostering economic cooperation between Dubai and high-potential global markets.
During their time in Ireland, the Dubai Chambers delegation held an extensive series of meetings with prominent officials from both the public and private sectors. Key participants included Enterprise Ireland, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), and the Ireland Foreign Direct Investment Agency (IDA). These discussions centered on advancing collaboration in priority economic sectors, paving the way for increased bilateral cooperation.
A significant highlight of the visit was the delegation’s tour of Ireland’s premier innovation and entrepreneurship hubs. They visited Dogpatch Labs, Ireland’s foremost start-up hub housing over 250 local tech startups and recognized by the government as the operator of the National Accelerator. Additionally, they explored the Guinness Enterprise Center (GEC), a not-for-profit facility nurturing more than 120 emerging businesses, and NovaUCD, the innovation hub at University College Dublin (UCD), co-funded by the Irish government and the EU, which has supported over 550 early-stage ventures. These visits offered deep insights into Ireland’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and opened opportunities to integrate with Dubai’s rapidly evolving digital and entrepreneurial landscape.
Reflecting on the mission, H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori expressed confidence in Dubai’s growing stature as a global business hub. He noted, “Dubai is continuing to consolidate its position as a leading global business hub by building strategic partnerships with major international markets such as Ireland. We remain committed to strengthening our drive to open new pathways for trade and investment between Dubai and the world.” He emphasized that these efforts are geared toward unlocking fresh business opportunities, supporting sustainable growth, and fostering promising investments for both regions.
The meetings also underscored the extensive support Dubai Chambers offers to Irish companies seeking to establish operations in Dubai. This support includes facilitating connections with potential partners and clients, as well as promoting joint ventures and investments between the business communities of both markets. Notably, the dialogue highlighted significant opportunities for Irish entrepreneurs, particularly those specializing in the digital economy.
Furthermore, discussions explored ways to boost cooperation across a variety of sectors, including investments, financial services, transport and logistics, venture capital, digital industries, and innovation. Dubai’s unique advantages in future-focused industries were showcased to Irish businesses, underlining a strong commitment to encouraging Irish investment in Dubai while enabling Dubai-based companies to expand into the Irish market.
Trade statistics underline the growing economic ties: non-oil trade between Dubai and Ireland reached AED 4.1 billion in 2024, marking an impressive 20% year-on-year increase. Additionally, the first half of 2025 saw 62 new Irish companies join the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, boosting the total number of active Irish member companies to 460.
This visit is part of a larger series of international trade missions organized under the ‘Growth Corridors’ initiative by Dubai Chambers. This initiative aims to open new channels of dialogue, strengthen bilateral relations with global business communities, and nurture strategic partnerships and sectoral integration. It reflects Dubai’s agile approach to navigating global economic shifts, adapting legislative frameworks, and leveraging emerging investment incentives. Ultimately, the initiative empowers Dubai-based companies to confidently and efficiently access international markets.
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