Hunan, the Middle East Deepen Cooperation Through Cuisine and Industry

Fragrant and spicy Hunan cuisine filled the air in Dubai, as industrial cooperation connects Hunan with the Middle East. Using food as a medium and industry as a foundation, Hunan has launched an economic and cultural dialogue spanning over 7,000 kilometers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the afternoon of September 9 local time, Hunan Province successfully held a series of events at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai, including the Hunan-Middle East Business Networking Conference for Competitive Industries, the "Nihao, China! Hunan Culture and Tourism Promotion Conference," and the "2025 Culinary Culture Tasting Event—A Taste of Hunan in the Middle East." These events were jointly hosted by the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Hunan Daily, with the aim of promoting in-depth exchanges and cooperation between Hunan and the Middle East in the fields of industry, culture, and cuisine.

Industry Matchmaking 

Hunan Enterprises Sign Multiple Agreements with the Middle East 

The Hunan-Middle East Business Networking Conference for Competitive Industries, as the centerpiece of the series of events, attracted numerous well-known enterprises and institutions from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other Middle Eastern countries. Economic and trade exchanges between Hunan and Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE have become increasingly close. Data shows that from January to July this year, the total import and export volume between Hunan and the UAE reached 7.32 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 61.3%. Multiple rounds of signing ceremonies were held during the conference, covering eight projects in fields such as energy, manufacturing, culture, and catering. These include a strategic cooperation agreement between the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, a trade order agreement between Zoomlion Gulf and a major crane company in the UAE, and a construction project agreement for the SO Hotel between the Sino-Hunan International Engineering and Development Co., LTD. and UAE-based MNI Investment Company. At the same time, to systematically promote the deep cultivation of the Hunan cuisine culture industry in the Middle Eastern market, the Hunan Commerce Development and Promotion Center signed a "Hunan Cuisine International Promotion Service" agreement with the Hunan Business Council of UAE. Hunan Daily and China-Arab TV jointly launched the "New Hunan, New Silk Road – Hunan Culture Digital Communication Partnership Program." Changsha Xiangshe No.1 Catering Management Co., Ltd. also signed an "Investment and Store Opening Project" agreement with Daguangming Investment Group, aiming to provide systematic support for the deep expansion of Hunan cuisine and Huxiang culture in the Middle East through multiple dimensions including standard setting, brand promotion, and physical store layout.

Cultural Tourism Promotion

The Scenic Beauty of Hunan Captures the Attention of the Middle East

The cultural tourism promotion segment kicked off with an energetic fusion performance of the "Chili Pepper Song" and a Dubai melody. The Hunan Provincial Song and Dance Theater presented a performance full of Huxiang cultural charm, allowing Chinese and international guests to "experience the rhythm of Hunan before even setting foot there." During the event, representatives of cultural tourism from both China and the Arab side jointly launched the Middle Eastern travel variety show project "Hello! MARHABAN," promoting the deepening of China-Arab cultural exchanges from "government cooperation" to "public resonance." At the event, NoorStars, a famous blogger from the UAE with millions of followers, shared wonderful moments from her trip to Hunan—from the unique peaks and sea of clouds in Zhangjiajie to the bustling night market in Changsha. Her authentic and moving stories resonated with the entire audience. A senior official stated in his speech that the UAE attaches great importance to cooperation with Hunan in the field of culture and tourism and looks forward to further strengthening resource integration and market sharing between the two sides to jointly develop new travel routes and products.

Taste of Hunan – Aroma Spreading Across the Middle East

As the grand finale of the events, the "2025 Culinary Culture Tasting Event—A Taste of Hunan in the Middle East" showcased the unique charm of Hunan cuisine. The tasting menu consisted of four appetizers, one soup, nine main courses, one staple food, two seasonal vegetables, as well as desserts and fruits. The ingredients were sourced from both China and the UAE, prepared in compliance with Halal certification and Qingzhen (Halal) requirements. Using Hunan cooking techniques and signature seasonings, the event allowed Chinese and international guests to experience the essence of Hunan cuisine—"one dish, one style; a hundred dishes, a hundred flavors"—even while abroad. The event also launched the "Healthy Hunan Cuisine" International Training Program, aimed at building an international culinary exchange platform and spreading the concept and cooking techniques of "Healthy Hunan Cuisine." It is reported that there are currently nearly 300,000 Chinese people permanently residing in Dubai, where demand for Chinese-style dining is strong. Nearly 30 Hunan cuisine enterprise representatives participating in this overseas mission are also conducting market research and location scouting in Dubai and other areas, which is expected to further advance the international expansion of Hunan cuisine.

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn