Investopia Global launches first dialogue session in Hong Kong to highlight modern financing and investment trends and strengthen UAE companies’ presence in Asia

• H.E. Bin Touq: 607 Hong Kong companies operate in the UAE markets as of the end of July 2025, with their number growing by more than 20 per cent compared to last year

• H.E. Mohamed Al Hawi: Event a key platform for expanding the scope of UAE’s trade and investment cooperation with Hong Kong

Under the chairmanship of H.E. Mohamed Abdulrahman Al Hawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment; and H.E. Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Investopia launched its first Global Dialogues session in Hong Kong. The event shed light on modern global investment and finance trends and their role in enhancing the growth and sustainability of economies, in addition to exploring the means to strengthen the presence of UAE companies in Asian markets. Other key themes included the driving forces reshaping the global economy, the fastest-growing markets in Asia and the Middle East, and the impact of economic and geopolitical challenges on regional and international economic growth.

The event, organised by Investopia in partnership with HSBC bank and in cooperation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), highlighted the importance of enhancing economic cooperation between the UAE and Hong Kong in sectors of new economy, tourism and travel, entrepreneurship, transport, technology and innovation, logistics, and financial services. It also focused on creating new opportunities for companies from both sides and supporting their expansion into foreign markets.

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “Economic and investment cooperation between the UAE and Hong Kong is witnessing continuous growth, within the broader framework of the thriving UAE-Chinese economic partnership, especially as the UAE is an important strategic gateway facilitating the expansion of Chinese and Asian companies into the Middle East and Africa. Our country’s strategic geographical location connecting East and West, its advanced infrastructure, its economic status as a leading global hub for business and investment, and its extensive network of economic and investment agreements with prominent regional and global markets are all factors supporting this growth. Consequently, the number of companies operating in the UAE exceeded 1.355 million by the end of the first half of 2025.”

H.E. Bin Touq added: “This event is an important opportunity to discover new investment pathways with our partners in Hong Kong and China at both government and private sector levels, and to develop diverse economic partnerships in areas of mutual interest, including the new economy. It also enables investors and businesspeople in the UAE to seize promising investment opportunities in Asian markets, building on the existing economic partnership between the two sides.” His Excellency explained that the number of companies from Hong Kong operating in the UAE markets reached 607 by the end of July 2025, up 20 per cent compared to the end of July last year.

H.E. Paul Chan Mo-po emphasised the importance of enhancing economic and trade partnerships between Hong Kong and the UAE and expanding areas of joint investment. This enhances cooperation opportunities between the business communities of both sides and cements their positions as key hubs for global economic growth.

H.E. Mohamed Abdulrahman Al Hawi said: “Investopia Global - Hong Kong is an important platform for expanding the scope of trade and investment cooperation between the UAE and Hong Kong, particularly in promising future sectors. The UAE remains committed to building strategic partnerships at both governmental and private sector levels, and expanding areas of knowledge exchange and best practices, which enhances innovation and supports sustainable economic growth.”

“Asian markets represent one of the most promising economic destinations, characterised by their rapid growth potential and diverse investment opportunities. They present opportunities for increased mutual investments with the UAE and building long-term economic relationships that generate sustainable value,” he added.

Dr. Jean Fares, CEO of Investopia, thanked HKSAR for hosting the latest Investopia Global Dialogues session, and HSBC for their cooperation in organising the high-level gathering. In his opening speech, he also outlined the key themes of this edition, which are, enhancing the economic partnership between the UAE and China in general, and with Hong Kong in particular, opening new horizons for cooperation and economic integration. The second theme addressed the rapid economic transformations regionally and internationally and the opportunities and challenges they present before nations around the world. The third theme highlighted investment and trade opportunities in promising economic sectors, foremost among them the new economy. The fourth theme focused on enhancing the presence of Emirati companies in Asian markets and enabling them to leverage the advantages to boost their global competitiveness. Finally, the fifth theme discussed investment and trade opportunities in promising economic sectors, particularly the new economy, as a fundamental pillar for sustainable growth and innovation.

Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Middle East – UAE, said: “Investopia is important because it highlights the role of economic corridors in driving trade beyond geographical boundaries. The corridors connecting Asia and the UAE are no longer just about moving goods—they now enable flows of trade, capital, talents, and innovation. From securities services to digital trade and payments, HSBC helps its clients make the most of these exchanges. This is a real chance for economic corridors to turn connectivity into integrated and sustainable growth.”

Alpha Lau, Director-General of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), said: “Invest Hong Kong’s mission is to connect global companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and to facilitate investment. Both Hong Kong and the UAE are key hubs in the Belt and Road Initiative, each playing a unique yet complementary role as major international economic centers. With shared strengths in finance, technology, and entrepreneurship, there is strong potential to deepen collaboration in areas such as green finance, fintech, family offices, and cross-border investment. InvestHK is dedicated to supporting Emirati companies on their growth journey, providing the resources and expertise they need to succeed and thrive in this dynamic region.”

Investopia Global – Hong Kong featured a series of panel discussions exploring the impact of global economic shifts on growth in Asia and the Middle East, while encouraging Emirati and Chinese business communities to forge new cross-border partnerships. The sessions highlighted inspiring stories of business leaders and companies that successfully transformed innovative ideas into pioneering economic ventures, showcasing the key strategies and factors behind their success in dynamic and fast-evolving economic environments like the UAE and Hong Kong.

The discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration to expand innovation horizons and provide talents with all necessary resources, fostering an integrated business ecosystem that nurtures the next generation of startups on both sides. They also explored building strong partnerships between entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, and accelerators, while examining the latest global trends in finance, investment, technology, and entrepreneurship. The panelists explained how these developments can be leveraged to drive economic growth in emerging markets, in addition to effective strategies and mechanisms to navigate current geopolitical and economic challenges.

The sessions also delved into major transformations reshaping the global tourism sector, from immersive experiences to tech-driven travel, highlighting the significant opportunities these shifts present for premier destinations such as the UAE and Hong Kong. These developments allow such destinations to enhance their competitiveness both regionally and internationally, while offering tourists from around the world unique experiences that seamlessly combine culture, innovation, heritage, and advanced technology. The sessions also underscored the strengths of the financial markets in the UAE and Hong Kong - including advanced infrastructure, flexible regulatory frameworks, and strong investment expertise - and examined how these advantages can be leveraged to drive cross-border capital flows and make both financial ecosystems more attractive to quality investors.

Seven MoUs signed between government entities and private companies

During the event, seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between representatives of government entities and private companies from both sides. These included an MoU between Investopia and Klickl; two MoUs between the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority and its counterpart, the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong; three MoUs between Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem Hub71 and three Hong Kong-based entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation institutions; and an MoU between P4ML and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. These agreements aim to strengthen collaboration in the fields of financial markets, investment, entrepreneurship, digital assets, research, innovation, and startups.

Investopia – Hong Kong, part of the 18th edition of Investopia global talks, was attended by an expanded UAE delegation, including senior officials from both federal and local governments, alongside representatives from the private sector. The event brought together more than 300 participants, comprising business leaders, investors, innovators, and policymakers from both sides. Key attendees included H.E. John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Marwan Al Marri, Regional Director of Asia at Dubai Chambers; H.E. Salah Sharaf, Vice-President Sharaf Group; Rabea Ataya, Founder and CEO of Bayt.com; Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of Lulu Financial Group; Abdulla Habib Al Mulla, Owner and CEO of Home Bakery; and Stuart Oda, Founder of Alesca Technologies.