In 2025, under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and with the support of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and the Consulate General of China in Dubai, the China Cultural Center in the UAE pursued innovation and organized a series of cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities, promoting mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and Arab civilizations.
2025 Highlights
“Happy Chinese New Year” Series of Activities
From January to February 2025, in cooperation with institutions including the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi, the Carcach Diplomatic Academy, Ferrari World, Umm Al Emarat Park, The Galleria shopping mall, and the Al Marmoom camp in Dubai, 12 celebration activities were held for the Year of the Snake “Happy Chinese New Year,” including a grand parade of Chinese new energy vehicles, a Spring Festival temple fair, a touring lantern exhibition, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and cultural performances, attracting about 40,000 local participants on site.
2025 “Arabian Travel Market”
In April 2025, the Center organized a delegation of 130 members consisting of 7 tourism authorities from 13 destinations in China and 26 tourism-related enterprises, under the theme of “Nihao!China,” to jointly participate in the 2025 Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai.
“519 China Tourism Day” Series of Activities
Around China Tourism Day in May 2025, the Center cooperated with Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the UAE Chinese Language Teaching “Hundred Schools Project,” and the Sharjah Ladies Club to hold the “Meet China Blue” exhibition and experience workshop, the workshop “Stories of Civilization Exchanges in the Forbidden City,” and the China Culture and Tourism Festival, bringing China’s cultural and tourism resources into mainstream art museums, primary and secondary school campuses, and clubs in the UAE.
“Tea for Harmony” · Tea Gathering Event
In May 2025, the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and the Center held the “Tea for Harmony” · Tea Gathering event at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation.
“Nihao!China” UAE Online Influencers’ Trip to China
From May 26 to June 4, 2025, to support China’s announcement of full visa-free coverage for GCC countries, the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and the Center organized the “Nihao!China” UAE Online Influencers’ Trip to China. Six online influencers visited Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu, Anji in Zhejiang, and Beijing, sparking widespread attention on overseas social media, and travel to China became a “hot keyword” in the UAE.
China–Arab Stage Art Exchange
In May and December 2025, the Sharjah “Quarter Century Theatre” in the UAE respectively cooperated with the China Institute of Stage Design, the Yinchuan Stage Art Society of Ningxia, and the Shanghai Theatre Academy to carry out China–Arab stage art exchanges.
“Nihao!China” Joint Promotion for Inbound Tourism
In June 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain and the Center held a “Nihao!China” Bahrain pop-up tourism promotion event at the City Center shopping mall in Manama. From November to December 2025, the Center, together with Emirates Airline, held the “Nihao!China” Winter Tourism UAE Online Promotion Event.
“A Time to Share” China Culture Week Activities
In September 2025, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, activities including a comprehensive acrobatic performance from Dezhou, Shandong, a comprehensive presentation of culture and tourism from Chengdu, and a violin solo concert by Lü Siqing were organized, with Chinese and Arab people celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival together.
2025 China–Gulf Arab Countries Tourism Exchange Event
In September 2025, support was provided for holding the first “China–Gulf Arab Countries Tourism Exchange Event” in Dubai. A total of 136 buyers and suppliers from China and Gulf Arab countries participated. With the theme of “Nihao!China,” the event carried out two-way displays of tourism resources and business negotiations.
China as Guest Country of Honor at the UAE National Festival of Tolerance and Coexistence
In November 2025, the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence invited China to participate as the Guest Country of Honor in the 7th “Festival of Tolerance and Coexistence.” The ethnic dance performance by Quanzhou Normal University organized by the Center and the Chinese cultural booth became highlights of the event.
Chinese Film Screenings
Throughout 2025, support was provided for the theatrical release of “Nezha 2” in the UAE; the film “The Musician” was screened in Abu Dhabi to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War; the 7th UAE China Film Week was held in Dubai, during which four Chinese films including “Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain” were screened in Dubai.
Gulf Travel Operators’ Trips to China for Events and Familiarization Tours
In October 2025, support was provided for the Dubai Office of Air China to organize UAE travel operators to visit Chongqing and Sichuan. In December 2025, the Center organized a delegation of travel operators from Gulf countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait to travel to Hainan to attend the 2025 China International Travel Mart and participate in a familiarization tour.
Once again, thank you for your attention and support for the China Cultural Center in the UAE, and Happy New Year!
