Letters | A win-win model for Hong Kong and Dubai
Readers discuss synergy between two financial hubs, national mourning in Colombia, and the human cost of conflict
Hong Kong and Dubai share more than a global orientation – both are built on trade, transformation and the free flow of capital. Our story stretches back to the Silk Road, when merchants connected East and West driven by ambition and resilience. That same instinct to connect and grow defines both cities today.
The fit is clear. Hong Kong serves as the gateway to East Asia. Dubai is a global superconnector and bridge to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India. Both are cultural mosaics and financial hubs powered by talent, capital mobility and world-class infrastructure rather than natural resources. Both continue to thrive by investing in connectivity, innovation and people.
This strategy is delivering results for Dubai. The city ranked first globally for greenfield foreign direct investment in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year, attracting 1,117 projects with FDI inflows rising 30 per cent.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) saw a 38 per cent increase in innovation companies in 2024, reaching 1,245 firms and thousands of new jobs, cementing its status as one of the fastest-growing fintech ecosystems globally. Guided by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, our ambition is to double the economy, expand trade and rank among the world’s top financial centres.
For Hong Kong’s tech founders, family offices and small and medium-sized enterprises, this translates into speed and scale. Given the United Arab Emirates-Hong Kong double taxation treaty and multiple trade agreements, Dubai is one of the easiest jurisdictions to establish, operate and grow a cross-border business.