Dubai Chambers and Assolombarda signed a memorandum of understanding on 1 October 2026 to expand commercial and investment dialogue between Dubai and Italy. The announcement provides a useful view of how business associations can support companies exploring international markets.
From introductions to practical market access
The memorandum calls for business delegations, joint events and exchanges of expertise. It also brings the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses together with Assolombarda’s family business network. For companies considering a new market, such channels can help them meet counterparts and understand local conditions. A memorandum itself does not establish a transaction, financing commitment or investment result.
Assolombarda reports that non-oil trade between Dubai and Italy reached AED 51.1 billion in 2025, 18% above 2024. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce had 1,700 active Italian member companies at the end of 2025, with 160 more joining in the first half of 2026. These figures provide context for growing business interest across the two markets.
What business families should assess
International expansion requires more than an introduction. Each potential project needs commercial due diligence, a clear ownership and governance structure, a review of local rules, and a realistic plan for execution and capital. Family-owned businesses may also need to align succession, control and long-term investment objectives before committing resources abroad.
Millennium Holding Group is covering this development as international business news. It is not a signatory to, or participant in, the Dubai Chambers–Assolombarda memorandum.
Sources: Agenparl, 1 October 2026; Assolombarda, 1 October 2026.