Dubai Chambers and Assolombarda Signed Trade Partnership
The agreement will support cross-border business expansion as Italian firms increasingly establish a presence in Dubai.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Dubai Chambers and the Italian business association Assolombarda have signed a memorandum of understanding to bolster bilateral trade relations and support new market entry. This partnership aligns with a period of rapid growth in Italian investment in the region.
Why it matters
The deal aims to formalize cooperation between trade communities, providing a structured pathway for companies to enter new markets through shared events and delegation support. It reflects the rising commercial ties between the two regions as trade volumes climb.
Bilateral non-oil trade reached $13.91 billion in 2025, marking an 18 percent increase over 2024 figures. By mid-2026, 160 new Italian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, contributing to a total of 1,700 registered Italian businesses.
The players
Dubai Chambers
A public non-profit organization that represents, supports, and protects the interests of the business community in Dubai.
Assolombarda
An Italian business association based in Milan that represents approximately 7,000 companies across various sectors.
The details
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses and the Assolombarda Family Business Network to facilitate knowledge sharing. Assolombarda, which represents approximately 7,000 companies in Italy, intends to deepen this engagement by opening a dedicated operational office in Dubai to support its members' expansion efforts.
Timeline
2024 served as the baseline year for calculating non-oil trade growth.
The total number of Italian companies in the Dubai chamber hit 1,700 by the end of 2025.
160 new Italian companies joined the Dubai chamber during the first half of 2026.
The partnership agreement was signed by October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
This agreement follows the 18 percent growth in bilateral non-oil trade seen in 2025 and builds on a trend that has seen Italian chamber membership in Dubai grow fourfold over five years. It signals a move toward more integrated trade infrastructure between the two business hubs.
Operators looking to enter the Dubai market should monitor the upcoming operational office launch as a potential resource for market entry support. Businesses should prepare to leverage these formal trade networks for delegation opportunities and cross-border networking.
The takeaway
The formalization of this partnership highlights a shift toward deeper, institutionalized support for international business expansion. Operators should track the opening of the new Dubai office to determine if it offers relevant networking or market-entry services for their sector.
Further reading
For broader insights on market expansion and regional business growth, see our Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economy Middle East.
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