Italian Business Presence Grows Nearly 10% at Dubai’s DMCC as Trade Ties with UAE Deepen
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), one of the United Arab Emirates’ most prominent business districts, has reported a near 10 percent year-on-year increase in the number of Italian companies operating within its free zone, bringing the total to more than 530.
The announcement follows the completion of DMCC’s latest “Made For Trade Live” (MFTL) roadshow in Southern Italy, where events were held in Naples and Palermo to promote trade and investment opportunities between Dubai and the region. According to DMCC, more than 260 Italian business leaders attended the sessions, which focused on Dubai’s growing role as a global hub for commerce and innovation.
The growth in Italian companies comes amid a broader uptick in UAE–Italy economic relations. Non-oil trade between the two countries surpassed $14 billion in 2024, reflecting an increase of more than 20 percent compared to the previous year.
“The synergies between the UAE and Southern Italy are increasingly evident,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC. “Both serve as strategic continental gateways supported by advanced logistics and port infrastructure. We see compelling potential for collaboration across sectors such as agri-food, coffee, energy, and precious metals and stones.”
DMCC’s Southern Italy outreach was conducted in partnership with a number of regional and international organizations, including Corbello, Cardo, Gravante & Raimo, Enterprise Europe Network, Forbes Italia, Gruppo Marican, the Naples Chamber of Commerce, the Order of Chartered Accountants of Naples, S.I. Impresa, Sicilia Sprint, and the Department of Economic Activities for the Sicilian Region.
With nearly 26,000 companies operating under its umbrella, DMCC contributes approximately 7 percent of Dubai’s GDP and accounts for 15 percent of its annual foreign direct investment, according to figures released by the organization.
As economic ties between Italy and the UAE continue to expand, DMCC has positioned itself as a central platform for Italian businesses seeking to enter Middle Eastern, African, and Asian markets through Dubai’s commercial ecosystem.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.
Oksana Bozhko
