The Dubai Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a series of bilateral business meetings between companies from Dubai and South Africa, in Johannesburg, noting that businesses in both markets see growing opportunities to strengthen ties.

The delegation from Dubai featured representatives from 24 companies operating across diverse sectors, including construction and building materials; electronics; engineering; environmental solutions; fast-moving consumer goods; food and beverages; healthcare; information and communications technology and innovation; investments; manufacturing; and retail.

The expanding relationship between the two markets is also reflected in the chamber’s membership, with 873 companies from South Africa registered as active members by the end of the first quarter of this year, the chamber says.

Forty-five new South African companies joined the chamber during the first quarter.

The trade mission was held as the value of non-oil bilateral trade between South Africa and Dubai increased by 265% to R129.2-billion over the ten years to end-2025.

“The rapid growth in trade between Dubai and South Africa reflects the depth of our growing economic partnership and underlines the strong connections between our markets.

“In line with our commitment to building on this positive momentum, we are continuing to expand joint cooperation and create high-quality opportunities that support business growth and enhance trade and investment flows,” says Dubai Chamber international relations executive VP Salem Al Shamsi.

The meetings that took place during the trade mission led by the chamber form part of its ‘New Horizons’ initiative, which aims to support the expansion of Dubai-based companies into promising global markets and strengthen international partnerships.

“This trade mission provides an important platform to open new channels for dialogue, strengthen business connections, and enable companies operating in Dubai to explore the promising opportunities offered by the South African market, which serves as a strategic gateway to markets across the African continent,” he says.