DMCC, the world's number-one free zone and the Government of Dubai's official commodities trade body, has now attracted over 500 Italian companies — up 6% since the start of 2024. The milestone follows the successful completion of DMCC's Made For Trade Live roadshow, which visited Milan and Rome to highlight opportunities in sectors including jewellery, luxury, fashion, energy, and technology.
DMCC Italian Companies Milestone Reached After Roadshow
The two Made For Trade Live events in Italy, held in partnership with Corbello Cardo, Gravante & Raimo, Forbes Italia, and Golf Club Courmayeur et Grandes Jorasses, drew nearly 180 Italian business leaders. Senior DMCC executives briefed attendees on the ease of doing business in Dubai through DMCC, covering the free zone's competitive regulatory environment and its strategic role as a gateway for global trade.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DMCC Executive Chairman and CEO, said: "With almost $9 billion in bilateral trade in 2023, the UAE is Italy's top trade partner in the region — and DMCC is the preferred platform for Italian companies looking to expand globally."
UAE–Italy Trade and DMCC's Global Reach
UAE–Italy bilateral trade reached nearly $9 billion in 2023, and the UAE is firmly established as Italy's largest Arab trading partner. DMCC accounts for 15% of Dubai's annual foreign direct investment inflows and currently hosts close to 25,000 international companies from around the world.
In 2023 alone, DMCC welcomed nearly 2,700 new companies to its district — a pace of growth that underlines Dubai's continued appeal as an international business hub. Italian firms represent one of the fastest-growing European segments within the free zone.
Why Italian Companies Choose DMCC
The business environment at DMCC offers a combination of factors that appeal to international firms: a competitive 9% corporate tax rate, business-friendly regulation, world-class infrastructure, and a location that provides access to markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Sectors in focus during the Italy roadshow included precious stones and jewellery — two areas where Italy has significant global expertise — alongside luxury and fashion, coffee, energy, and technology. These align closely with UAE–Italy trade flows and represent growth areas where DMCC sees strong demand from Italian companies seeking to internationalise.
Made For Trade Live: DMCC's International Outreach Programme
The Made For Trade Live roadshow is DMCC's flagship international business-development initiative, taking its message directly to companies in key trading nations. The Italy leg is part of a wider programme that targets markets where DMCC sees strong potential to grow its member base and deepen bilateral trade relationships with Dubai and the UAE.
With the 500-company mark now surpassed, DMCC says it expects the Italian cohort to keep growing as awareness of Dubai's business advantages spreads further across Italy's business community.
