Trillion-Dollar Market Opportunity: Chinese Manufacturing Targets Middle Eastern Demand — The 18th HOMELIFE UAE International Home & Gifts Expo Successfully Held in Dubai!

Original 06-18 15:22 | 542 visits

From June 11–13, 2025, the 18th HOMELIFE UAE International Home & Gifts Expo was successfully held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event was hosted by the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and MEORIENT International Exhibition, with co-hosting from the Commerce Bureaus of Jiaxing and Jinhua, under the guidance of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province. The expo also received strong support from major Emirati organizations and companies, including the Dubai Chamber, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Africa Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Textile Merchants Association, and HOMEBOX.

A Trillion-Dollar Market Magnet: A New Hub for China-Arab Trade

As the largest re-export hub in the Middle East and Africa, the UAE has signed over 100 free trade agreements, with a trade network covering a market of 2 billion people. China remains the UAE’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade volume exceeding $101.8 billion in 2024, up 7.2% year-on-year. This year’s expo served as a vital platform for Chinese enterprises to tap into emerging markets under the Belt and Road Initiative and deepen their integration into the global trade ecosystem.

Spanning 15,000 square meters, the event featured nearly 500 companies from 61 cities across 12 provinces including Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, as well as exhibitors from Hong Kong and Dubai. Popular product categories included household goods, kitchenware, beauty and personal care, outdoor leisure and sports items, gifts, and office supplies. The expo attracted nearly 30,000 professional buyers from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and beyond, offering Chinese companies an important opportunity to expand into the Middle Eastern market.

Following Market Trends: Smart Chinese Manufacturing Meets Middle Eastern Demand

"Just half a day in, and we’ve secured 10 clients! Our gifts perfectly match local aesthetic preferences—the results have far exceeded expectations," said a representative from Shenzhen Yuqi Crafts.

Similarly, a representative from Suzhou Yipin Gifts shared: "This is our first time attending a Middle Eastern trade show, and the results are incredible! We received a $1,000 trial order on the first day alone—Dubai's consumer purchasing power is truly impressive."

The expo showcased thousands of high-quality “Made in China” and “Designed in China” products, precisely catering to the preferences of Middle Eastern consumers. The event reflected the region’s robust demand for home and gift products and highlighted the strong appeal of Chinese brands.

One standout trend was the growing demand for outdoor and sports goods in Dubai. Products like tents and sunshades drew large crowds. Companies such as Suzhou Ruoqi Smart Technology, Hangzhou Qiao Industrial, and Shandong Shangzhen Outdoor Products reported strong interest from Middle Eastern buyers.

A representative from Shandong Shangzhen shared excitedly: "As a professional tent manufacturer, we were busy nonstop from start to finish. Buyers showed great interest, all our samples were reserved, and discussions continued even after the show ended."

Business Matchmaking Express: Efficient Linkage of Opportunities

To facilitate in-depth engagement between Chinese enterprises and the Middle Eastern market—and to support product internationalization and brand globalization—the expo featured a dedicated “Major Buyer Procurement Matchmaking Event.”

Retail chains, brand operators, and e-commerce giants like DAY TO DAY, Safari, Delta Food Industries Fzc, Noon, and Nesto attended the event and held face-to-face meetings with exhibitors. Over 600 one-on-one sessions were successfully conducted, building efficient bridges for cooperation. Exhibitors shared: “The buyer matchmaking exceeded expectations—targeted, effective, and incredibly efficient!”

Smart Trade Upgrade: AI Enhances Efficiency by 200%, Revolutionizing Traditional Exhibiting

This year’s expo marked a new level of digital transformation, offering exhibitors a highly intelligent participation experience. Leveraging Meorient’s proprietary "AI Smart Exhibition" system”platform and AI-powered glasses, the show provided six AI-powered tools—AI Search, AI Translate, AI Memo, AI Write, AI View, and AI Connect—enhancing functions such as buyer discovery, multilingual translation, smart meeting summaries, and more. This all-in-one AI solution is estimated to improve exhibiting and lead generation efficiency by up to 200% compared to traditional participation.

Next Stop: Back to Dubai This December!

This successful event not only demonstrated the strength of Chinese manufacturing but also provided key opportunities for Chinese companies to expand into the Middle East. The next HOMELIFE UAE International Home & Gifts Expo will be held again in Dubai this December. We look forward to seeing even more Chinese enterprises join us in seizing global opportunities!

【About THE INTERNATIONAL HOMELIFE EXPO】

THE INTERNATIONAL HOMELIFE EXPO is committed to serving the home furnishing and gift industry to go global, creating an efficient trade docking platform, and letting Chinese manufacturing light up the global home life. Over the years, it has accumulated more than 3 million+ global high-quality buyer resources and rich overseas market operation experience, as well as innovative data-driven digital exhibition models, helping more than 200,000 Chinese companies to successfully go global and occupy overseas markets!

2025 THE INTERNATIONAL HOMELIFE EXPO Annual Plan

THE 4TH VIETNAM HOMELIFE EXPO (May 14-16)

THE 9TH INDONESIA HOMELIFE EXPO (June 4-7)

THE 18TH UAE HOMELIFE EXPO (June 11-13)

THE 10TH MEXICO HOMELIFE EXPO (September 2-4)

THE 12TH BRAZIL HOMELIFE EXPO (September 16-18)

THE 9TH SOUTH AFRICA HOMELIFE EXPO (September 23-25)

THE 15TH POLAND HOMELIFE EXPO (November 12-14)

THE 10TH INDONESIA HOMELIFE EXPO (November 26-29)

THE 19TH UAE HOMELIFE EXPO (December 17-19)

2025 SAUDI ARABIA HOMELIFE EXPO (December 22-24)

THE 9TH INDIA HOMELIFE EXPO (December 24-26)