Middle East—Dentons hosted its first New Silk Road Forum series in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week. This inaugural Forum focused on leveraging opportunities between China and the Middle East and considered in-depth the challenges and best practices for doing business in both markets. 

Trade between China and the Middle East has continued to expand rapidly. On the New Silk Road energy, infrastructure, projects and consumer goods have replaced historic trade in jade, tea and silk.  With both markets presenting significant opportunities for inbound and outbound investment China-Arab trade is expected to peak at US$600 billion within the next decade alone. An active investor in emerging markets, China has robust ties in project development and financing across the Middle East. At the same time, Middle East investors continue to develop Chinese trade ties. China is now the largest trading partner for nine Arab countries.

Speakers at the New Silk Road Forum included partners from Dentons' Middle East and Asia Pacific offices, whose long-standing presence in both regions ensured valuable insights into the cultural understanding and practicalities of doing business on the ground and accessing key opportunities. The Forum follows on from Dentons' announcement of its historic combination with 大成. The new firm, which will be the largest in the world, will bring together more than 6,500 lawyers and professionals in 120 locations in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Neil Cuthbert, Middle East Senior Partner based in Dentons Dubai office, commented, "We were delighted to host such an engaging and insightful event. As China has expanded its trade ties to the Middle East, we have seen opportunities grow and diversify across different markets and sectors. Outbound investment along the Silk Road Economic Belt continues as a strong trend for Chinese investors whilst interest from Gulf investors in the huge China market continues to expand. In hosting the Forum we are seeking both to bring senior stakeholders together and to shape discussions around future directions."

Dentons Hong Kong Managing Partner, Keith Brandt, added, "The economic drivers behind China's focus on the Silk Road Economic Belt are set to continue as China has become a net capital exporting country. Seven of the top Twenty-Five Contractors by revenue in the world are Chinese and a number of these are active in the Middle East with its many regional infrastructure projects offering significant opportunities."  

The next event in the New Silk Road Forum series will be held in the UAE tomorrow (11 March 2015).

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