Chinese enterprises expand steadily into the Middle East market with heightened confidence

September 2025

The Middle East is a global hub for shipping and trade, acting as a strategic pivot and cooperative partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. For years, China has cultivated strong ties with major countries in the region, emerging as the largest trading partner for several and a significant source of foreign direct investment.

Economic diversification across the Middle East is opening new opportunities for Chinese enterprises. The number of Chinese companies investing and operating in the region continues to rise, with many actively preparing to enter the market.

In 2022, PwC published the Report on Chinese Investors’ Confidence in the Middle East, the first to survey more than 100 Chinese enterprises operating in the region. It explored their development trajectories, opportunities, challenges, expectations and business strategies.

To continue tracking the progress of Chinese enterprises in the region, PwC China’s Inbound Outbound Service team conducted a new survey of over 100 Chinese companies from April to May 2025.

The findings reveal that with the accelerated economic diversification transformation in the Middle East, Chinese enterprises’ confidence in the Middle East market has significantly increased, investment layouts are continuously deepening, and future development prospects are vast.