At the recently concluded Asian Financial Forum, or AFF, in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Oman pitched their ongoing projects to potential Chinese partners, highlighting their stable business environments.

Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the UAE ambassador to China, reaffirmed this tone at the strategic dialogue “Future Horizons: The UAE-Hong Kong Connect” on Jan 27. It was jointly hosted by the UAE Consulate in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and InvestHK where visiting Middle East executives and officials from the lesser-known emirates Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah were well represented.

Al Hammadi said in his keynote speech that they “support an open and a predictable business environment” and are “focused on delivering clear outcomes”, as he encouraged everyone to build connections and sustain collaborations.

Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan, a master developer for the government of Ras Al Khaimah, invited potential investors or collaborators to look to Wynn Al Marjan Island, the first integrated resort in the region expected to open in 2027.

He said they are seeking potential foreign investments, particularly those looking to invest in hospitality destinations and integrated resorts.

“It’s an important invitation for Hong Kong developers to be part of this journey. If you are an individual, be part of it. Invest in growth … or if you are a real estate developer, be part of that successful story and enjoy a broad range of opportunities in the hospitality sector … if you are not, be part of the supply chain, be part of the construction boom.”

A similar invitation was extended by Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of RAK Properties — a publicly listed company on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Muhtadi said RAK Properties would be contributing to Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy of developing 50,000 units by 2030 and they would be forming additional strategic partnerships and “hopefully many of them from Hong Kong”. The real estate developer is involved in both residential and office spaces.

Sandra Marie Louw, CEO at RAK International Corporate Centre, a corporate registry also based in Ras Al Khaimah, said they continue to “provide solutions and flexibility in an ever-changing world”.

RAK ICC assists companies and high-net worth individuals and their families to consolidate operations and manage investments across regions, as well as optimizing their tax structures and making cross-border operations smoother and more cost-effective. More than 40,000 corporations are benefiting from its secure and compliant ecosystem.

From another emirate Sharjah, Obaid Al Jarwan, a senior executive at Invest in Sharjah, highlighted their three ports: Port Khalid, Port Khorfakkan and Port Hamriyah. He said they offer a variety of systems and space for investment.

At the AFF, Oman invited guests to the Suhar Investment Forum in February. The invitation was also accompanied by a primer on “Invest Oman”.

At a fireside chat at the AFF on Jan 26, Haitham Al Omairi, senior business development manager at Sohar Port and Freezone in Oman, highlighted the government’s net zero 2050 goals, which outlines the country’s move from fossil fuels to renewable resources.

Al Omairi said investors can tap into the solar industries where there are policy incentives for the solar modules and build up the value chain. He said they have a plan to produce about 8 million metric tons of green hydrogen toward 2050, and by 2030 the plan is to produce 1.3 million tons of green energy.

“If we look into that number and try to break it down, there are a lot of industries and supported industries needed to be established from today to support that project by 2030,” said Al Omairi, citing electrolyzers, ammonia and rubber.

jan@chinadailyapac.com