On June 17th, the AIM Talks China 2026 was held in Guangzhou's Tianhe District. The event drew nearly 70 companies and institutions from the UAE and the wider Middle East, with over 100 political and business guests in attendance, marking the largest delegation from the Middle East to visit Guangdong in recent years. During the conference, the AIM Global Foundation officially inaugurated its Guangdong Liaison Office, and the Tianhe Central Business District (CBD) reached a cooperation intention with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This marks the first time in the 14-year history of the summit that it has been held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Tianhe's strong comprehensive strength is its core advantage in attracting Middle Eastern capital. In 2025, Tianhe's GDP surpassed 700 billion yuan, ranking first among all districts in Guangzhou for the 19th consecutive year and placing sixth among China's top ten GDP districts, contributing 22% to the city's economic growth.

Tianhe boasts a highly advanced industrial structure, with the tertiary sector accounting for over 90% of its GDP. The district excels particularly in modern service industries, core digital economy industries, and the financial industry, providing high-quality industry scenarios and cooperation resources for the diversified transformation of Middle Eastern capital.

Tianhe District offers a superior regional business environment and strong industrial support. With 775,000 enterprises, it ranks first in Guangzhou in both the total number of businesses and new registrations. Its well-established industrial ecosystem substantially lowers the cost of cross-border investment. In its first appearance in the global ranking, Tianhe CBD secured 22nd place worldwide and ranked among the top four in China, making it the only business district in Guangdong to make the list, demonstrating its international business competitiveness.

Furthermore, Tianhe has a significant advantage in attracting foreign investment. It ranks first in Guangzhou for the number of foreign-invested enterprises, with nearly 2,000 new ones added in 2024. The district is home to numerous foreign consulates and boasts comprehensive international support facilities. It has been steadily improving its services in intellectual property protection, talent services, and foreign-related services, while continuing to lower market access barriers for foreign investors. These efforts provide a solid foundation for Middle Eastern capital to settle and grow in the region.

中东资本湾区首站为何选广州天河？

6月17日，阿联酋国际投资峰会中国（广东）产业投资对接会在广州天河举行。近70家阿联酋及中东企业机构、超百名政商嘉宾参会，形成近年中东资本访粤最大规模团组。会上，AIM全球基金会广东联络处正式揭牌，天河中央商务区与阿布扎比金融自由区达成合作意向，这也是该峰会创办14年来首次落地粤港澳大湾区。

强劲的综合实力是天河吸引中东资本的核心优势。2025年，天河GDP突破7000亿元，连续19年位居广州各区首位，位列全国GDP十强区第六，对全市经济增长贡献率达22%。

天河产业结构高度高端化，第三产业占比超九成，现代服务业、数字经济核心产业、金融业占比表现亮眼，可为中东资本多元化转型，提供优质产业场景与合作资源。

区域营商与产业配套优势突出，天河现有企业77.5万户，总量、增量均居广州第一，成熟的产业链配套大幅降低跨国投资成本。天河CBD首次参评即跻身全球第22位、全国四强，是广东唯一上榜商务区，具备国际化营商竞争力。

此外，天河外资集聚优势显著，外资企业数量居全市首位，2024年新增外资企业近两千家。辖区集聚多家外国领事机构，国际化配套完善，在知识产权保护、人才服务、涉外配套等方面持续优化，持续降低外资准入门槛，为中东资本落地深耕筑牢基础。

文、图 | 记者 陈玉霞
译 | 黄健新
英文审校 | 曾敏