I had the privilege of being invited to the “Doing Business with Thailand” forum last week in Bangkok. The event also marked the inauguration of Dubai Chambers’ new Bangkok office. This is its 36th international outpost and a significant milestone in the growing commercial relationship between Thailand and the UAE.

In conversations with H.E. Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Thailand, and H.E. Mohammed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, it was clear that this move is seen as a key component in the broader strategy of establishing deeper and more structured economic partnerships across Southeast Asia.

Economic ties between Thailand and Dubai are already flourishing. Non-oil bilateral trade surpassed US$6.5 billion in 2024, marking an impressive year-on-year growth of over 23%. The number of Thai companies registered as active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce also rose significantly in 2024, jumping by 28% to reach 190 by year-end.

The significant potential across multiple sectors, from renewable energy and medical tourism to freight services and digital infrastructure, was clearly highlighted. Thailand’s strategic ambition to become ASEAN’s digital hub, supported by its Bio-Circular-Green economic model, aligns well with the UAE’s own position in global innovation and logistics networks. Several major initiatives are already under way, particularly in solar power, AI, and data centre projects.

After the inauguration, I joined several structured networking sessions with Thai and Emirati business leaders. The mood was forward-looking, with a focus on the many concrete areas of strong potential.

I also met several key members of Dubai Chambers’ new Bangkok office. We agreed to meet again soon to explore the opportunities in greater depth. The future of trade is no longer defined simply by “East or West”. It is shaped by where bridges are being built. And right now, one of the most important bridges runs directly between Dubai and Bangkok.

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