H.H. Sheikh Mohammed unveils initiative to draw top 1,000 firms in foreign trade

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has unveiled an economic initiative to strengthen the UAE’s position as a major hub for international trade flows.

The UAE Global Centre of Trade programme aims to attract top 1,000 global firms specializing in foreign trade to the UAE and launch a portal to link Emirati export companies to foreign markets.

It will also train and build capacity for more than 10,000 companies in the UAE to compete globally.

The move aims to "further consolidate the UAE’s position as a central hub in global trade routes," Sheikh Mohammed announced on social media platform X.

أطلقنا برنامجا اقتصادياً دولياً لتعزيز مكانة الإمارات العالمية في التجارة الخارجية.. البرنامج يستهدف استقطاب أهم 1000 شركة عالمية في مجال التجارة الدولية، وإطلاق بوابة رقمية تربط آلاف شركات التصدير الإماراتية بالأسواق الخارجية، كما يوفر فرصاً أكبر لمنتجاتهم وأسواقاً جديدة… pic.twitter.com/5ussQTEwmq

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 20, 2025

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said the programme reflects the UAE leadership’s belief that trade is an essential catalyst of economic growth, development and diversification, and that collaboration with the world’s most important markets continues to drive productivity and innovation.

The UAE Global Centre of Trade will be led and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Trade in partnership with a wide range of strategic associates, including other ministries, federal and local government agencies, national institutions, and private-sector companies. It is comprised of eight initiatives.

1. It will look at attracting 1,000 new international trading companies to establish their headquarters in the UAE by analysing markets and sectors in high demand. The second - 
2. The UAE Export Portal will develop an integrated digital platform to enable more than 10,000 companies to gain quick access to global markets.
3. The Ready2Trade will deliver online and offline modules to train and build capacity for more than 10,000 companies in the UAE to compete globally.
4. The UAE Trade Days will be organised in select countries to showcase UAE products and services and develop sustainable, customer-buyer networks. 
5. The UAE International Trade Expo will aim to attract 600 companies from 50 countries, with a total of 100,000 visitors. It will create an international platform of interaction between importers and exporters, and between companies, governments and institutions. 
6. The UAE Traders of the Future Programme will prepare a new generation of Emirati traders by developing the skills and confidence needed to compete globally. The programme will seek to graduate 100 qualified Emirati traders annually.
7. The Young Traders Programme will engage high school and university students in trade opportunities. 
8. The Leveraging AI to Optimise Foreign Trade, where AI can support smarter, faster and more flexible foreign trade management mechanisms through real-time analytics and forecasting global market trends. It will develop 15 intelligent systems for market forecasting, risk management and supply chains.

Overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, this initiative promises to enhance the UAE’s non-oil trade, empower its exporters, and attract global companies that can increase trade flows from, into and through the UAE.