The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a luncheon conversation with President and CEO of Dubai Chambers H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah on Thursday, July 10th, 2025 at the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s offices in Washington, D.C.
H.E. Lootah outlined ways Dubai is positioning itself as a premier destination for innovation, global commerce, and investment. He emphasized the following:
- Dubai’s D33 Agenda aims to double the Emirate’s GDP by 2033 by attracting global talent, capital, and technology.
- Dubai’s location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe enables it to serve as a strategic business and trade hub for the MEASA region.
- The city’s investor-friendly policies—including 100% foreign ownership, financial free zones, and tax incentives—have made it one of the world’s most business-conducive environments.
- Sectoral priorities under D33 include logistics, advanced manufacturing, AI, fintech, and clean energy.
- Dubai aims to grow its foreign trade to over $6 trillion in the next decade, with a focus on expanding partnerships across key global markets.
- Public-private partnerships are vital to implementing Dubai’s digital government, smart infrastructure, and AI-driven innovation agenda.
H.E. Lootah also previewed the upcoming Dubai Business Forum U.S. in New York on November 12th, 2025, detailing ways U.S. companies can get involved and engage with the Forum.
- The forum will attract international business leaders and lead to forging new partnerships.
- The expected audience consists of senior executives from leading U.S. companies across strategic sectors as well as policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs interested in expanding to the Middle East and Africa through Dubai.
- The forum will highlight opportunities in key sectors and offer U.S. companies direct access to Dubai government officials and private sector leaders.
- The objective of the forum is to encourage U.S. businesses to take part in Dubai’s transformation into one of the world’s most connected, business-friendly, and innovation-driven cities.
For more information about the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s programming and this event, please contact Caitlin Cottrell at ccottrell@usuaebusiness.org.
