GUANGZHOU, 21st October, 2026 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the Emirate’s first business consultancy in China. The consultancy inauguration marks a significant milestone in Ras Al Khaimah’s longstanding relations with the Provinces of China, opening a new chapter of cooperation and partnership.
Located in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province and one of China’s leading economic and industrial centers, the consultancy will serve as a leading platform dedicated to strengthening Ras Al Khaimah’s engagement with Chinese businesses, facilitating new partnerships and expanding cooperation across key sectors.
The inauguration was attended by Mariam Alshamsi, UAE Consul General in Guangzhou, Eng. Yousif Al Ali, CEO of Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), and a number of Chinese business leaders. It builds on a relationship that stretches back centuries, when maritime trade connected Ras Al Khaimah with China through the exchange of goods, including porcelain and pearls. This shared history, together with more than four decades of diplomatic relations between the UAE and China, provides a strong foundation for continued cooperation.
Addressing attendees, H.H. Sheikh Saud said: “Our history and our experience have taught us that partners look beyond opportunity alone. They seek stability, transparency, governance and commitment. This is the environment we have built in Ras Al Khaimah.
“Today, we take a meaningful step forward in our partnership, inaugurating Ras Al Khaimah’s first business consultancy here in Guangzhou. By establishing this consultancy, we create a lasting home along our shared path. We connect our people, our cultures and our industries. In doing so, we are ensuring that our collaboration is no longer periodic, but continuous, and no longer transactional, but truly transformative.”
Sheikh Saud toured the new consultancy and witnessed a traditional Chinese lion dance and the distribution of customary red packets, which added a vibrant cultural dimension to the inauguration ceremony.
As part of the celebrations, the Ras Al Khaimah 2027 Calendar Sketches Competition was held, where almost 200 Guangzhou students aged 11 to 15 were asked to explore Ras Al Khaimah through art, drawing inspiration from the Emirate’s natural landscapes, mountains, beaches, heritage, culture and traditions. The 12 winning entries will feature in the official Ras Al Khaimah 2027 Calendar.
As part of his visit to Guangdong, H.H. Sheikh Saud also met Wang Xi, Member of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Provincial Committee, to discuss further strengthening relations between Ras Al Khaimah and the province and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors of mutual interest.
The meeting was attended by Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and Mariam Alshamsi, UAE Consul General in Guangzhou.
With a population of over 128.6 million people, Guangdong has the largest economy of any province in China, with a GDP of US$2 trillion (AED7.34 trillion) in 2025. It is a major manufacturing hub, with electronics, automotive, textiles, pharmaceuticals, high-tech industries, finance and real estate making up some of the key sectors.