Follow 'New wave' of Chinese investors set to return to Dubai property market
Living with their family in Dubai, the ease of doing business and the UAE’s safety record are high on the checklist of reasons why Chinese residents are moving to the UAE.
Some are moving back to a city they are familiar with, others will move later this year after Beijing ended stringent quarantine restrictions in place since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of Chinese citizens living in the UAE has doubled to 400,000 since 2019 and about 6,000 Chinese companies operate in the UAE, Chinese government figures show.
A vibrant Chinese population and good international schools are key factors when Chinese citizens make comparisons between work and residency options in Dubai, Europe, Asia, the US, Canada or Australia.
Tour groups from China will also resume this month with the UAE included in a pilot list of 20 countries.
China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that Chinese travel agencies could begin outbound tours to countries including the UAE, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Singapore, Egypt, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Argentina.
My son got good offers from big banks and he selected Dubai. Like him, others will come.
Jiqing Chen,
chair, UAE Shanxi Chamber of Commerce
Wu Zixuan left her home in Beijing just before New Year to be with her husband who has been working in Dubai for about 10 years.
Known as Vivi to friends, Ms Wu is keen to stay in Dubai at least until her son Ming, 8, completes his education.
The past few years have been tough as Ms Wu’s husband who works in the petroleum sector was unable to visit them frequently in China due to weeks-long quarantine regulations.
“The basic reason is for family, I want my family to live together,” says Ms Wu, a lawyer who specialises in intellectual property rights.
“I’m also interested in how to support my son’s education. I don’t want to keep changing the environment as he grows older.
“I want a stable situation for my family.”
Choice of schools
Dubai’s choice of schools from the International Baccalaureate to the American curriculum was an added draw.
Ms Wu is no stranger to Dubai having lived in the city for two years in 2018.
She moved back to China in March 2020, just before Covid-19 lockdowns shut national borders, as she was wanted her son to better understand their native culture.
“I went back because I wished my son would have a deep understanding of our language, our poems,” she said.
“But I did not like that my husband could not visit often. It impacted our family and so we decided to reunite.”
Her son’s acceptance at the Dubai International Academy, an IB institution on her shortlist of Dubai schools, cemented her decision to return.
Enthusiastic about Dubai, she ticks of the city’s advantages to friends and family in China who are considering a move.
“Chinese parents think a lot about their children’s education and schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are good,” Ms Wu said.
“I tell my friends Dubai is a good choice - they can start some business here.
“There are so many reasons I came back. I like the people, I like the smiles on people’s faces here, also the city is so international.
“I can feel the warmth. I like the safety of Dubai.”
However, the rising cost of living has come as a surprise when she compares prices to two years ago.
She pays Dh100 more on grocery shopping a week and finds restaurant meals more expensive.
Ms Wu is thankful education fees have not risen. Dubai's government has frozen private tuition fees for three years in a row.
“The prices are getting higher,” she said.
“For people who have lived in Beijing or big cities, they may think it’s okay.
“But it will be expensive for people from smaller villages.
“For people who have the financial ability to live abroad – Dubai may be one of the options but not the only option.”
'American cities just aren't safe'
Bingbing Chen has returned to Dubai, a city he has known as home since the age of five, from the United States.
The spate of shootings in California last week that killed at least 25 people vindicated his decision to leave after finishing a master’s degree in August.
“I have seen how dangerous the US can be like the violence during Lunar New Year in California,” the 25-year-old said.
“Usually California or New York is the place you want to start a business in - but both are filled with violence.”
He had a harrowing first-hand experience some years ago as witness to a mugging near his college campus in Boston.
“The guy covered his face, had a gun in his hand and assaulted a person in front of me,” he said. “That ended everything in my mind about staying in the US.
“I knew I didn’t want to be a victim.”
Mr Chen declined job offers from top investment banks in the US and China and instead aims to grow his parent’s shoe business in Dubai and later build a company of his own.
The emirate’s business-friendly and quick processes are a welcome change from the challenges he encountered when attempting to launch a small business project in the US.
“Dubai is a much better choice for me mainly because of the infrastructure to support small businesses,” he said.
“I want to be an entrepreneur and it was so easy to open a new office here.
“In the US, everything is time consuming. There are different laws in every state and separate federal laws when I tried to growing the family business there.”
He is working to set up an online platform so Lucky Shoes, his family business can attract buyers globally.
Mr Chen is upbeat about Chinese interest in the UAE following revamped visa rules.
“A lot of Chinese companies are looking to start here especially e-commerce firms,” he said.
“There will be a bunch of people seeking opportunities here now that travel restrictions have ended.”
Jiqing Chen, Mr Chen’s mother, promotes the city by telling her family’s story.
A wholesale shoe business she and her husband ran in 1999 has grown to a manufacturing company with three retail stores.
“We are a good example when Chinese people ask for more information about Dubai,” said Ms Chen, chairperson of the UAE Shanxi Chamber of Commerce.
“I always advertise Dubai.
“There is a lot of competition in China so people look at investment in Dubai.
“There is interest in the golden visa.
They will also come because their children can study in Dubai schools.”
She spoke of a rising interest among Chinese nationals to make UAE their base.
“My son got good offers from big banks and he selected Dubai,” Ms Chen said.
“Dubai feels like his home country, he understands Dubai.
“Like him, others will come.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
Founder: Ayman Badawi
Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software
Size: Seven employees
Funding: $170,000 in angel investment
Funders: friends
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlanRadar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2013%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIbrahim%20Imam%2C%20Sander%20van%20de%20Rijdt%2C%20Constantin%20K%C3%B6ck%2C%20Clemens%20Hammerl%2C%20Domagoj%20Dolinsek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVienna%2C%20Austria%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EConstruction%20and%20real%20estate%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400%2B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Headline%2C%20Berliner%20Volksbank%20Ventures%2C%20aws%20Gr%C3%BCnderfonds%2C%20Cavalry%20Ventures%2C%20Proptech1%2C%20Russmedia%2C%20GR%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
