Netherlands in UAE’s top five European partners

Dubai International Chamber has inaugurated its fourth European representative office, in Amsterdam. The UAE is seeking to build on bilateral non-oil trade of AED11.2 billion ($3.1 billion) with the Netherlands in the first half of 2023.

Officials said the new office, which opened last month, will play a key role in enabling Dubai-based companies to expand into key European markets and attract foreign direct investment.

Arnoud Govaert, chair of the Netherlands Business Council UAE, told AGBI that agriculture, renewable energy and water are “significant” sectors driving growth in UAE-Dutch trade.

He said Dubai is an attractive hub for Dutch companies, particularly for fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products.

“In terms of food security, the UAE is eager to boost its own production and, therefore, encourages investments in the horticulture sector, with many investors looking to use Dutch technologies,” he added.

The Netherlands is a major agricultural powerhouse, second only to the US in terms of global food exports, and Dutch companies such as Signify, Certhon and Priva work closely with UAE businesses by exporting technology and know-how to build greenhouses. 

The Netherlands is among the UAE’s top-five trading partners in the European Union. In the first half of 2023, bilateral non-oil trade rose by 20.4 percent increase on the same period in 2022. About 350 Dutch companies are operating in the UAE.