Dubai Chamber of Commerce has established a Uzbekistan Business Council, giving businesses in both markets a dedicated platform to deepen trade and investment ties as commercial links between Dubai and Uzbekistan continue to expand.
The council held its inaugural meeting at Dubai Chambers' headquarters. Its stated purpose is to strengthen cooperation between business communities in Dubai and Uzbekistan, support the growth of trade and investment ties, and expand collaboration opportunities across sectors.
Why the timing matters
The launch comes as non-oil trade between Dubai and Uzbekistan reached AED10.3 billion in 2025. Uzbek business presence in Dubai has also been climbing: the number of active Uzbek companies registered as members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce rose to 826 in 2025, up 21.3% on the year before. That momentum has carried into 2026, with 75 new Uzbek companies joining Dubai Chamber of Commerce as members in the first half of the year alone.
Those numbers suggest a business relationship that has moved well beyond occasional trade flows into a steadier pattern of company registrations and market entry, which is the backdrop the new council is meant to build on.
What the council is meant to do
Maha Al Gargawi, Vice President of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers, said the council creates an important platform for strengthening trade and investment partnerships between Dubai and Uzbekistan. "It will play a key role in creating new avenues for bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors, contributing to economic growth and the development of sustainable, long-term partnerships between the business communities in both markets," she said.
Ulugbekhon Maksumov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Business Council in Dubai and Founder and CEO of Aksum Group, framed the launch as more than a formality. "Today marks an important milestone in the growing relationship between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates," he said. "We are not simply launching another business organisation — we are creating a practical platform where entrepreneurs can connect with trusted partners, investors can discover new opportunities, and companies from both countries can grow together. Together, we will build stronger business bridges between Uzbekistan and the UAE and contribute to the continued growth of trade, investment and economic cooperation between our two countries."
Who this affects
For Dubai-based companies looking at Central Asian markets, and for Uzbek firms already registered with Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the council offers a formal channel for networking and sector-specific collaboration rather than one-off engagements. Given the pace of new company registrations already recorded in the first half of 2026, the council's early agenda is likely to focus on sustaining that growth and translating it into broader trade and investment cooperation between the two economies.