Events & Meetings

The "Immersive Hong Kong" exhibition debuted in the Middle East on December 20, 2024 at The Beach, Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. Organised by the Information Services Department and the Dubai ETO, the exhibition aims to showcase Hong Kong's attractions, business, and investment opportunities to the Middle East. Through interactive art technology, the exhibition features projections and displays in five thematic zones, including "Financial Bridgehead" and "Buzzing Sports Action," and highlights Hong Kong's new Kai Tak Sports Park. Visitors can also enjoy a vibrant skyline display by artist Messy Desk, promotional videos, and testimonials from Middle Eastern business leaders for free until the end of exhibition on January 5, 2025.
At the invitation of the Dubai ETO, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi visited the exhibition on December 24. He noted that the exhibition provides an important platform for the people of the UAE to explore the potential of Hong Kong across tourism, business and investment sectors, whilst highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a gateway to Mainland China. The Consul General of the UAE in Hong Kong, His Excellency Shaikh Saoud Ali M. A. Almualla, who earlier visited the exhibition, also noted the huge potential for closer bilateral ties between the UAE and Hong Kong.

The Dubai ETO hosted a promotional seminar-cum-luncheon on December 11 for the maritime and logistics sectors from Hong Kong and the UAE, with around 70 guests attending. Supported by the Emirates Shipping Association, the event featured Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr. Liu Chun-san, who highlighted Hong Kong's initiatives to advance its shipping and logistics services in his opening speech. The event, also attended by members of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board and the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, facilitated networking and exploration of collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong and the UAE. We were also honoured to have the General Manager of the Emirates Shipping Association, Ms. Huma Qureshi to join and deliver a keynote speech.

The Dubai ETO welcomed a delegation of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) led by its Chairman, Mr. Steve Chuang during their mission to the Middle East. Over 60 people attended a networking reception hosted at our office on 5 December. It provided the delegation an opportunity to meet and network with various businesses in the UAE and exchange views on ways to promote different industries as well as potential collaboration/partnership.

Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee introduced the policy measures announced in the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address to further strengthen bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the Middle East. He also encouraged investors and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and the Middle East to explore business and investment opportunities in the two places.

Presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy and supported by the Dubai ETO, the third edition of Hong Kong film festival in Dubai, “Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation”, showcased eight of Hong Kong’s latest film releases and timeless classics from 2 to 8 November 2024 at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue of Dubai. Hong Kong film talents interacted with audiences, guests and students at the opening reception, post-screening Q&A sessions and a forum at the American University of Sharjah.

The Dubai ETO jointly organised a forum in Dubai with the Department of Justice and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on 22 May to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services. Entitled "Hong Kong - The Common Law Gateway for UAE Businesses to China and Beyond", the forum attracted more than 300 participants from the legal, business and other sector of the UAE. A networking luncheon was held after the forum. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, attended both events during his official visit to the Middle East and delivered opening remarks and keynote speech respectively.

The Dubai ETO hosted a business luncheon in Riyadh on 19 May for the legal and related business sectors from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. About 100 guests joined the event where the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, attended during his official visit to the Middle East.

Themed "Hong Kong – The Common Law Gateway for Saudi Arabia Business to China and Beyond", the luncheon aimed to deepen legal, investment and trade ties between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, providing a platform to showcase how the common law system in Hong Kong can facilitate businesses in Saudi Arabia to enter the markets of Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia-Pacific and beyond.

For the second year in a row, the Dubai ETO welcomed students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management to our office. Led by Professor Nicholas Thomas, the students were on a study tour to the UAE, visiting iconic tourist destinations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and steeping in Emirati culture and hospitality.

Our Director-General, Mr Damian Lee, welcomed the students to a sharing session with Ms Queenie Keung and Ms Kristie Chow, both hospitality professionals in leading hotels in the UAE. They gave an overview of the UAE’s flourishing tourism sector and shared with the students their experiences working in the industry.

The Dubai ETO hosted a business luncheon in Dubai on 6 March for the innovation and technology (I&T) sectors from Hong Kong and the UAE. About 120 guests joined the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the event, during his visit to the UAE.

With Hong Kong and the UAE as I&T powerhouses in their respective regions, the event provided a platform for key players to strengthen their networks in the field. The participants took the opportunity to interact with local companies from the I&T and related industries, exchange business and market information and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

The Dubai ETO, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hosted a Chinese New Year dinner reception in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates on 28 February. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, who was in town to attend the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, joined some 150 guests from the local government and business community for the festivities.

The event featured a mesmerising performance by musical group Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, putting Hong Kong's unique East-meets-West culture on full display.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO) sponsored the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2024, which took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on February 10 and 11. Returning for its second edition, this year’s festival attracted more than 30 teams per day with a total of about 1,200 competitors during the two-day event on the shores of Dubai.

Coinciding with the Lunar New Year, this year’s festival expanded into a weekend extravaganza, featuring not only competitive races in various categories, but also a range of festivities, including a lion dance performance and interactive activities enticing paddlers and spectators to learn more about Hong Kong.

The Dubai ETO, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Climate Change Forum, hosted a networking reception on 5 December for sustainability and engineering professionals attending the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Ms Salina Yan, also attended the reception during their visit to Dubai for COP28. In his keynote speech for the event, Mr Tse encouraged the attendees to continue to work together to build a sustainable future.

Presented by Create Hong Kong and supported by the Dubai ETO, the second edition of Hong Kong film festival, “Asian Cinerama - Hong Kong Film Festival”, showcased seven of Hong Kong’s latest film releases and timeless classics from 10 to 16 November 2023 at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai was proud to support a retrospective of famed Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai at Dubai’s Cinema Akil from 12 May 2023 (Friday) to 28 May 2023 (Sunday), which featured eight of his cinematic masterpieces.

A pivotal figure of Hong Kong cinema, Wong’s works are iconic not only in the domestic film industry, have garnered numerous accolades at international film awards. Wong is considered a contemporary auteur and his films are characterised by nonlinear narratives, atmospheric music, and vivid cinematography involving bold, saturated colours.

The Dubai ETO hosted more than 30 final-year undergraduate students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on May 11. Led by Professor Nicholas Thomas, the students are on a study visit to learn more about the hospitality industry in the UAE and experience Emirati culture first-hand.

The Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, welcomed the students and encouraged them to apply all that they glean from the trip as they embark on their careers in Hong Kong. We were also honoured to have Miss Queenie Keung, an alumna of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management currently working in Dubai, share her professional journey with the students.

The Dubai ETO hosted a luncheon for a delegation of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union today (May 10) in Dubai. The delegates visited Kuwait and Qatar earlier this week, and are now on their final stop in the UAE. Welcoming the delegates at the luncheon, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, stated that the visit was well-timed given the Chief Executive's recent visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Our office is delighted to see Hong Kong businesses and entrepreneurs thriving and constantly on the lookout for new opportunities in the Middle East, once again demonstrating that Hong Kong is indeed the key link and functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative. We look forward to receiving more delegates from different sectors in Hong Kong to support them to explore investment and business opportunities in the region.

The Dubai ETO held a networking reception on March 9 at our office to welcome legal practitioners from Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates as well as local business contacts to promote Hong Kong’s robust legal and judicial system and our top-notch legal and dispute resolution services. We were glad to have hosted Mr C. M. Chan, President of The Law Society of Hong Kong, during the Law Society's visit to Dubai for the 31st Annual Meeting & Conference of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association.

Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, noted that the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr John Lee, had just visited the Middle East region including the UAE with a 30-strong high-level business and professional delegation last month. Riding on the success of that visit, the Dubai ETO welcomes and supports Hong Kong enterprises and professionals to explore business and investment opportunities in this region. The Dubai ETO will serve as a conduit for those in Hong Kong looking to establish their connections within the GCC economies.

The event was organised with The Law Society of Hong Kong.

The Dubai ETO organised the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-Hong Kong Business Forum and Chinese New Year Gala Dinner on 8 February with the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, Dubai Chambers, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The event coincided with the high-level business and professional delegation from Hong Kong led by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, during their visit to the UAE from 6 to 10 February.

Addressing about 300 representatives of local authorities and business leaders, Mr Lee introduced Hong Kong's unique advantages and investment opportunities in his keynote speech, and added that he looked forward to forging closer bilateral relations between the two economies.

Jazzical, a Hong Kong music group, performed at the gala dinner. A number of talented Hong Kong musicians employed the language of jazz with the means of both Chinese and western instruments to modernise melodies, showcasing the rich and unique East-meets-West culture and arts of Hong Kong to the audiences.

Riding on the visit by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and a high-level business and professional delegation from Hong Kong, the Dubai ETO hosted the Saudi Arabia-Hong Kong Investment Forum and Chinese New Year Gala Dinner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 5. The event, which was attended by over 300 representatives of local authorities and business leaders, was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia.

A Hong Kong-based chamber group Ensemble Silka played tunes by eastern and western musical instruments during the event to present cultural diversity.

Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema, the globe-trotting film programme celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, made its final stop in Dubai in December.

Presented by Create Hong Kong and supported by the Dubai ETO, the week-long film festival ran at Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue from December 9 to 14 with 8 films from Hong Kong. A photographic exhibition was also held to showcase the fascinating works by four Hong Kong photographers during the period at Seeing Things Studio, Alserkal Avenue.

About the movies (Trailer).

Check out the details of the festival here.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai hosted a business seminar and dinner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 10 November (Thursday) at the ballroom of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. The event is organised in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and the Saudi Chinese Business Council.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai hosted a business seminar in Doha, Qatar on 19 October (Wednesday) at the Grand Hall of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event is organised in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The first-ever Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Dubai was held on 8 and 9 October to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. There were 35 teams per day with a total of more than 1 200 competitors participating in races of various categories during the two-day event on the shores of Dubai. The Dubai ETO also formed a team consisting of members of the Hong Kong community living in the UAE to take part in the festival.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai co-hosted a reception and gala dinner with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 21 September, 2022 (Wednesday).

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office hosted a business seminar and luncheon alongside Hong Kong Trade Development Council, InvestHK, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Hong Kong SAR and UAE Governments jointly organised a webinar titled "Hong Kong-UAE Partnership: Immense Opportunities" on 24 May to explore collaboration opportunities in such fields as trade, investment and professional services.

It was the first government-to-government webinar that the HKSAR Government has organised jointly with a trading partner in the Middle East, and the seventh one since the webinar series commenced in mid-2020. Some 400 people registered for the event.

With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, Hong Kong film “Hand Rolled Cigarette” (directed by Chan Kin-long) was screened in Dubai’s Cinema Akil at Alserkal Avenue on 1 April. This marked the debut of a Hong Kong film at Cinema Akil, an independent cinema in Dubai, since its opening in 2018.

About “Hand Rolled Cigarette” (Trailer)

“Hand Rolled Cigarette” tells of a story between a retired British-Chinese soldier and a marginalised young South Asian man, and was nominated in a number of categories at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards. The production of the film received funding from the HKSAR Government’s First Feature Film Initiative, which nurtures new film talent seeking to make their first commercial feature films.

On 3 November 2021, a webinar was organised for the UAE business community, including both local and foreign companies, to learn about how to establish and grow their businesses in Hong Kong. Co-hosted by the UAE Consulate General in Hong Kong and InvestHK and co-organised by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai, the webinar featured speakers from InvestHK and UAE companies operating in Hong Kong to share with the audience their insight and experience on how to tap into the tremendous business and investment opportunities available in Hong Kong, particularly those arising from various initiatives including China's Belt and Road Initiative and Guangdong-Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area.

Re-watch the webinar at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdPMamvwBWM