Dubai Chamber Membership Tops 231,000 in 2018

A total of 14,476 companies joined Dubai Chamber in 2018, bringing total membership to over 231,000 and cementing the non-profit public organisation’s position as one of the world’s largest membership-based chambers of commerce.

Dubai Chamber’s total membership grew 6.5% year-over-year in 2018, and 36.7% over the 2014-2018 period, highlighting Dubai’s attractiveness as a global trade and investment hub.

Exports and re-exports of Dubai Chamber members grew steadily in 2018, reaching a combined value of AED 254 billion as the scope of export markets widened to an average of 173 destinations per month during the year.

The value of member exports and re-exports exceeded AED 1.38 trillion over the past five years (2014-2018), reflecting the growing role of Dubai Chamber in facilitating and diversifying Dubai’s non-oil trade with other markets around the world.

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Dubai Chamber issued 803,000 certificates of origin in 2018, bringing the total number of certificates issued over the 2014-2018 period to 4.42 million. A total of 5,790 ATA Carnets worth AED 3.2 billion were issued and received by the Chamber in 2018.

More than 24,000 ATA Carnets valued at over AED19 billion were issued and received during between 2014 and 2018, reflecting the positive impact of the ATA Carnet system managed by Dubai Chamber in cooperation with Dubai Customs.

The ATA Carnet system facilitates temporary entry of imports to Dubai that are often used for trade fairs, exhibitions and conferences.

In 2018, Dubai Chamber stepped up its international outreach efforts by promoting Dubai at 80 overseas events, and organising trade missions to 34 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, China, Estonia, Latvia, Colombia, Azerbaijan, US, Saudi Arabia, France, Gambia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Panama, and Russia.

In 2018, Dubai Chamber hosted 1,852 delegations from 43 countries, marking an 83% increase compared to the 1,013 visiting delegations accounted for in 2017.

The number of delegates hosted surged 71% year-over-year to 3,506.

H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described 2018 as a pivotal year for the Chamber marked by membership growth, international expansion, new initiatives, achievements and milestones which supported Dubai’s economic diversification strategy and enhanced the competitiveness of the emirate’s private sector.

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