Technology companies that people increasingly depend on for everyday digital services will find new routes to grow between Dubai and Hong Kong, under a collaboration announced between Dubai CommerCity and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITPL). The partnership carries practical consequences for businesses, entrepreneurs and the wider digital economy that citizens rely on.
The agreement was announced during the Dubai Business Forum China, organised by Dubai Chambers in Shenzhen on 14 October 2026, under the theme “Momentum at Scale: Accelerating Shared Success.” Amna Lootah, Director General of Dubai CommerCity, attended alongside senior representatives from HSITPL and Dubai Chambers.
What the two partners bring matters for the companies they serve. Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated to e-commerce in the MENA region, is a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Group. HSITPL, for its part, supports research, development and innovation collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen within the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, connecting companies to the wider innovation ecosystem of China’s Greater Bay Area.
For companies operating in the two markets, the framework sets out concrete support. Businesses based in Dubai CommerCity will be able to explore establishing themselves within the Loop Hong Kong Park and use it as a platform to expand into Hong Kong, the mainland and other markets. In the other direction, technology companies from Hong Kong can be attracted to Dubai CommerCity, where they can draw on its integrated ecosystem to set up and grow in the UAE and reach regional markets.
The two sides will introduce companies to business establishment opportunities within their respective ecosystems and facilitate access to entrepreneurship programmes, office space and essential support services needed to begin operations. The cooperation also aims to help companies enter new markets and connect them with the partner networks of both parties.
Meanwhile, the collaboration extends beyond establishment support. Joint events will offer mentorship and opportunities to showcase solutions and technologies, together with connections between technology companies and potential investors. According to the announcement, these initiatives are intended to help companies build relationships and access networks that support their growth and international expansion.
Amna Lootah framed the partnership in terms of Dubai’s broader economic role. “Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for the digital economy and a destination for companies seeking to grow and expand internationally,” she said. She added that the collaboration with HSITPL supports this ambition by connecting business and innovation ecosystems and creating new pathways for technology companies to access international markets, contributing to the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by strengthening Dubai’s competitiveness, attracting high-quality investment and advancing a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.
Lootah also emphasised the practical dimension for companies at different stages of growth. “At Dubai CommerCity, we focus on developing partnerships that respond to the needs of companies at different stages of growth, bringing together an integrated business environment, specialised expertise and international connections,” she said. Through the collaboration, she said, the free zone aims to support its companies in exploring opportunities to expand into Hong Kong and the Chinese market, while enabling technology companies from Hong Kong to use Dubai as a platform to develop their businesses and access new markets across the region.
Vincent Ma, Chief Executive Officer of HSITPL, described the partnership as bringing together two complementary business and innovation ecosystems. “This collaboration brings together two complementary business and innovation ecosystems, creating broader opportunities for technology companies to expand beyond their home markets,” he said. “We look forward to working with Dubai CommerCity to facilitate business expansion between Hong Kong and Dubai, connecting companies with the expertise, partners and investment opportunities that can support their growth, strengthen their capabilities and advance their international presence.”
The cooperation also strengthens Dubai CommerCity’s international partnership network and reinforces its role in providing a business environment that combines infrastructure, specialised services and access to global markets, in line with the evolving needs of companies operating in the digital commerce sector. For businesses and the wider public that depend on a growing digital economy, the agreement signals a deepening of ties between two major commercial hubs. Whether that translates into faster, better-connected digital services for everyday users in both regions will be watched as the first companies make the crossing.