Ras Al Khaimah, UAE- His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has concluded a six day working visit to China aimed at strengthening business relations, attracting investment and opening new opportunities in technology, manufacturing, transport, finance and energy.
The visit, held from October 17 to 23, 2026, covered Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Sheikh Saud led a delegation of senior officials and representatives of government entities, holding meetings with Chinese business leaders and visiting major companies. The visit reflects Ras Al Khaimah’s growing ambition to strengthen its position as an international business and investment destination.
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One of the key events was the Ras Al Khaimah China Business Summit in Shenzhen on October 19. Nearly 300 government representatives, investors and business leaders attended the summit, held under the theme “Together Towards Shared Value”.
Sheikh Saud highlighted opportunities in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, renewable energy and logistics. He said more than 400 Chinese companies already operate in Ras Al Khaimah, demonstrating the importance of these business relations.
The Ruler presented the emirate as a gateway for Chinese companies seeking access to markets across the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The strategy also complements China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to strengthen trade and connectivity between markets.
Technology cooperation was a major focus of the visit. At UBTECH Robotics, Sheikh Saud witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the company and the Ras Al Khaimah Government’s International Relations Office. The agreement establishes a framework for advanced research, field testing and the potential operational deployment of humanoid robots in the emirate.
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He also visited ARIDGE’s smart manufacturing facility in Guangzhou to learn about its advanced air mobility technology. The company has an existing agreement with Ras Al Khaimah’s Transport Authority and Civil Aviation Department to support the development of advanced air mobility.
In Shenzhen, Sheikh Saud witnessed another memorandum of understanding between the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center and Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority. The agreement covers intelligent transport systems, public transport, low altitude mobility and artificial intelligence applications, with both sides exploring how these solutions could be introduced in Ras Al Khaimah.
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The Ruler also visited Vipshop, a major Chinese e commerce company, in Guangzhou. His delegation held meetings with representatives of China Securities International, ZTE, HOPU Investments, Hong Kong and China Gas Company, Full Vision Capital, Qilu Pharmaceutical, YXE China Railway Express, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings, China Road and Bridge Corporation, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, AJT Group, Star net Group, Xiamen Airlines and Fujian Energy and Petrochemical Group.
These engagements covered technology, infrastructure, aviation, finance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and energy, providing opportunities to explore future cooperation.
Another important development was the inauguration of Ras Al Khaimah’s first business consultancy in China, located in Guangzhou. The office is intended to provide a continuing platform for connecting Chinese companies with investment opportunities in Ras Al Khaimah.
Sheikh Saud also met Wang Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, to discuss stronger relations and cooperation across sectors. In Fujian, he met provincial leader Zhao Long on October 22. The two sides subsequently signed an agreement establishing friendly relations between Fujian Province and Ras Al Khaimah, covering areas including trade, investment, culture, tourism and people to people exchanges.
The visit builds on earlier cooperation, including the 2024 agreement between Ras Al Khaimah and Guangdong Province covering the digital economy, technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, smart cities, culture and tourism. In April 2026, the emirate also signed cooperation agreements with the Bank of China and ICBC to encourage investment, financial cooperation and potential support for industrial and infrastructure projects.
For Ras Al Khaimah, the larger objective is to attract investment, introduce useful technologies and create long term commercial opportunities.
The results will ultimately depend on how these agreements develop into actual investments, projects and jobs. However, the visit marks another step in building a broader business relationship between Ras Al Khaimah and China.
This analysis is based on publicly available news reports, official statements and published information. The views and interpretations are for editorial analysis and do not imply that proposed projects or agreements have already been fully implemented. ALL PICTURES COURTESY: WAM
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