Vietnam UAE trade took center stage on 8 September, when VietArab attended Expanding From Southeast Asia Through Dubai — a private business session hosted by DMCC for selected ASEAN business leaders, held in partnership with the ASEAN Business Councils of Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The session brought together ambassadors, business council representatives, and specially invited companies from across the five markets for a focused conversation on how Southeast Asian businesses can use Dubai as a strategic base for market access, sector connectivity, and regional growth.
As a corporate member of the Vietnamese Business Council under Dubai Chamber, VietArab was there to represent Vietnam's growing presence in this conversation — and the day delivered on all fronts.
Reconnecting with the Vietnam Business Council Dubai network
The session gave us the chance to catch up with fellow members of the Vietnamese Business Council, reinforcing the relationships that make this community such a valuable resource for companies working the Vietnam–GCC corridor. We also had the opportunity to meet with H.E. Nguyen Thanh Diep, Vietnam UAE Ambassador — a valuable touchpoint for staying aligned with the broader diplomatic and trade priorities shaping this relationship at the government level.
ASEAN GCC trade: market updates that matter
Beyond the networking, the session offered a clear-eyed look at where ASEAN GCC trade is heading. With bilateral trade ties between the UAE and Southeast Asia continuing to deepen, discussions centered on how companies from the region can use Dubai and DMCC's ecosystem as a launchpad — not just for entry into the UAE, but as a base for wider regional and global expansion. For a corridor-focused business like VietArab, these are exactly the market signals that inform how we advise our partners.
Networking beyond Vietnam
One of the most valuable parts of the day was the chance to connect with representatives from the Malaysian, Indonesian, Singaporean, and Philippine business councils. Trade corridors don't operate in isolation — understanding how other ASEAN markets are approaching the GCC gives us sharper context on where Vietnam's opportunities are strongest, and where collaboration across councils can open doors that a single-market view might miss.
Why this matters for VietArab's trade facilitation partners
Events like this are where market intelligence turns into actionable insight. Every conversation — whether with a fellow VNBC member, the Ambassador, or a counterpart from another ASEAN council — sharpens the picture we bring to the businesses we work with on both sides of the Vietnam–GCC corridor. It's this kind of direct, on-the-ground engagement that keeps VietArab's Vietnam UAE trade knowledge current and our trade facilitation partnerships well-positioned.
With thanks to DMCC
We'd like to thank DMCC and its partner councils for putting together such a well-curated session — bringing together ambassadors, business leaders, and council representatives from across five ASEAN markets in one room is no small feat, and the quality of the conversations reflected that. Dubai's role as a connector economy for Southeast Asian trade continues to grow, and we're glad to have VietArab represented as that story unfolds.