A New Hub for UAE-China Clean Mobility Innovation Takes Shape in Dubai

The UAE and China have established a permanent institutional framework to translate their growing partnership in electric vehicles and smart transport into tangible projects and investment opportunities, with cooperation already visible on Dubai's streets through autonomous taxis and electric buses.

The partnership between the UAE and China in clean and smart mobility has acquired a permanent home. The UAE-China Smart Transport Centre, launched in Dubai during the Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition and Conference 2026, represents more than a venue or administrative office. Rather, it functions as an institutional framework designed to sustain cooperation throughout the year, moving beyond the traditional exhibition cycle to transform industry discussions into practical projects and genuine investment opportunities.

Dawood Al Shezawi, President of the Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition and Conference 2026, announced the centre’s launch during the UAE-China Industrial Cooperation Forum on green and smart mobility. He explained that the initiative emerged from proposals made by representatives of government entities and Chinese companies during the exhibition’s opening day, reflecting a shared recognition that such cooperation requires sustained, year-round engagement rather than episodic contact.

The centre operates across three distinct tracks. The first provides Chinese companies with a single point of access to UAE authorities, demystifying regulatory procedures, licensing requirements, vehicle certification, safety standards and the technical specifications for electric charging networks. The second connects Chinese vehicle and technology manufacturers with UAE fleet operators, charging-network providers, industrial partners and investors through regular meetings designed to cultivate cooperation and identify investment pathways. The third track supports pilot projects in autonomous taxis, autonomous logistics, charging and energy systems, allowing companies to test solutions and prepare for broader regional deployment.

The depth of the UAE-China relationship already commands attention. Non-oil trade between the two countries surpassed US$100 billion for the first time in 2025, growing 24.5 percent year-on-year. China stands as the UAE’s largest trading partner, whilst the UAE ranks as China’s leading Arab trading partner in non-oil commodities. As we reported in October, a UAE delegation led by Eng. Sharif Al Olama concluded discussions with leading Chinese companies on energy technologies and smart mobility solutions, signalling the strategic intent behind this institutional partnership.

Al Shezawi articulated the complementary strengths that undergird this cooperation. China brings recognised leadership in new-energy vehicles, battery manufacturing, charging technologies, intelligent connected vehicles and autonomous driving systems. The UAE contributes a clear vision for clean and smart mobility, advanced infrastructure capabilities and a strategic geographic position connecting markets across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Together, these strengths position the UAE as a hub for testing Chinese mobility technologies, scaling deployment and introducing innovations to regional markets.

Evidence of this cooperation already extends beyond planning documents. Autonomous taxis operate on Dubai’s roads. Electric buses serve the emirates. New vehicle models from Chinese manufacturers are entering the local market. Dubai has committed to converting its entire taxi and limousine fleet to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2040, creating substantial opportunity for the partnerships that the Smart Transport Centre will nurture.

The forum explored opportunities to advance industrial and investment cooperation beyond traditional trade exchanges. Participants discussed how to benefit from Chinese expertise in electric vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure whilst strengthening collaboration in research and development and the adoption of technologies supporting sustainable transport transitions. Progress achieved through the centre will be reviewed during the next edition of the Dubai International Electric Vehicle Exhibition and Conference.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The UAE-China Smart Transport Centre strengthens the federation’s position as a testing ground and commercialisation hub for advanced mobility technologies. For Abu Dhabi, the institutional framework offers pathways to accelerate the localisation of electric vehicle industries, develop technical expertise in manufacturing and charging infrastructure, and attract investment from Chinese companies seeking to establish regional operations. The centre’s focus on pilot projects and supply-chain development creates opportunities for Emirati businesses to participate in technology localisation and industrial partnerships.

More broadly, the centre reflects the UAE’s strategic intent to position clean and smart mobility as a core pillar of economic diversification. By maintaining year-round engagement with leading Chinese innovators and manufacturers, the centre helps ensure that the federation’s ambitious sustainability targets find practical support from global technology partners. The framework also signals confidence in the depth and maturity of the UAE-China relationship, moving beyond transactional trade towards collaborative innovation that benefits both economies.

Source: WAM (11 November 2026)