As China's power rises, it seems to be increasingly turning towards the Gulf. As we report today, not only has the volume of trade grown between the UAE and China, so have the numbers of tourists arriving from China. Data from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing show that more than 80,000 visitors from China arrived in Dubai last year.
Seeing an opportunity in China's potential after the financial crisis, Dubai has been quick to position itself as a favoured destination. Flights from Beijing, Shanghai and other hubs in China have attracted large numbers. The full capacity of the Burj al Arab on Chinese New Year is just one more sign of the growing interest in Dubai.
In order to cater to this new source of interest, hotels, malls and restaurants have rushed to re-orient themselves, attempting to serve these new visitors authentic foods and launch their brands in Chinese.
Though trade is expected to reach $100 billion within the next few years according to some estimates, there remains room for growth. DragonMart is but one visible presence of Chinese commerce on the ground - there are sure to be many more. And between fast-food staples on the one hand or haute cuisine in hotels on the other, we could do with a little less fried food and a few more dim-sum options. That would be just one more way those living in the UAE could benefit from China's rise.
