According to a report released Sunday by the Dubai International Chamber, 58 percent of newly registered companies in the Gulf emirate came from Asia. Europe followed far behind with 16.1 percent, a group that includes the EU, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) accounted for 12.9 percent, placing it well ahead of Africa and North and South America combined, which together made up only 6.5 percent. This comes as a surprise given that Dubai, due to its role as a financial and trade hub, is often referred to as the "New York of Africa."

The Reliable Emirate

The nine CIS member states are using the UAE's commercial metropolis Dubai—which is globally well connected through flight routes, international banks, and the Jebel Ali Free Zone—as an alternative hub, partly to bypass Western sanctions against the Russian Federation. In return, the CIS region is also attractive to Arab companies due to its large population and wealth of natural resources—particularly in agricultural goods, metals, and precious metals.

SMEs Often from Asia

In the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment, Asia again topped the list, accounting for nearly half of all companies attracted by the Chamber in the first half of 2025. The Middle East and the CIS also recorded significant growth, together representing 22.3 percent of new SMEs, followed by Africa (11.6 percent), Europe (9.8 percent), and the Americas (7.1 percent).

During the first six months, the Chamber recorded a year-on-year increase of 138 percent in the total number of companies it helped bring to Dubai. These included both multinational corporations (MNCs) and SMEs. The outlook points to continued growth—along with intensifying competition.

«Output growth reached a six-month high in the UAE on the back of strong sales and domestic demand, while new order volumes fell to the lowest level since June 2021 amid competitive pressures and supply chain disruptions,» said Dr. Nasser Saidi, President of Nasser Saidi & Associates and one of the leading economists in the Gulf.