Dubai World launches Chinese website

The website, www.dubaiworldchina.cn in Mandarin language provides comprehensive details on the group and its subsidiary companies. The launch of the Chinese version of the website is aimed at presenting Dubai World to the Chinese people, giving them a clear picture of the group's vast and diverse investment interests.

A high level delegation of business leaders, including HE Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, is accompanying Sheikh Mohammed on the visit.

The timely launch of the website indicates the significance of China to Dubai World, and the company's commitment to the world's fastest growing economy. Recent figures released by Dubai World's Statistics Centre showed that non-oil trade between the two countries increased from Dhs48.4bn (around $13.18bn) in 2006 to Dhs71.2bn (around $19.4bn) in 2007.

Mr. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, commenting on the visit, said: "This visit will further enhance the cooperation and economic ties and the existing strong relations between the UAE and China and will help build long-term business commitments."

"The UAE and China are strategic trade partners. Dubai, the largest market for Chinese exports in the Middle East, is the Commercial Gateway to the region. For Dubai World, which is one of the major UAE investors in China, the Chinese market represents an important investment destination; especially that China's economy is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 8% from 2006 to 2010."

Farid Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary General, Dubai World, said that the launch of the Chinese website highlights the importance of Sheikh Mohammed's visit.

"The visit to China by Sheikh Mohammed is an important event for Dubai World since we have major investment focus on that country. DP World, the global marine terminal operator, has its projects in China. Istithmar, Tejari, and Limitless, also, have presence there and are looking to expand operations. China is a huge market with immense investment potential. The country is also one of the biggest trade partners of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed's visit will add new vigour to the bilateral relations between the two countries."

DP World currently operates five marine terminals in China - ACT and CT3 in Hong Kong, DP World Yantai, Qianwan Container Terminal and Tianjin Orient Container Terminals. CT3 was rated the best terminal in the under 4 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) category in the Asia Freight & Supply Chain Award in 2007.

DP World also has interests in logistics businesses, notably ATL in Hong Kong, which is the market leading logistics operator. DP World is investing significantly in China; Phase VI at Qingdao is one of the most important of its 13 new developments worldwide.

China's economy is fast growing, and a crucial factor in its continued growth is the country's port infrastructure. The Qingdao port complements DP World's existing presence in the Bohai Basin ports of Tianjin and Yantai.