Lecture Introduction

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a pivotal economy in the Middle East and a major global hub for trade and finance. With its strategic location connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa, the UAE serves as a key node in the Belt and Road Initiative. The UAE government actively promotes economic diversification, vigorously developing non-oil industries such as finance, tourism, and logistics, offering vast opportunities for foreign enterprises. In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese companies have entered the UAE market, achieving remarkable success. However, they also face challenges, including cultural differences, geopolitical risks, intense market competition, high operational costs, and legal and regulatory disparities. These challenges demand higher adaptability in their internationalization strategies. The UAE University has fostered extensive and in-depth collaboration with China across multiple fields. This lecture will provide an in-depth analysis of the current landscape and challenges for Chinese enterprises in the UAE, sharing practical insights from China-UAE cooperation to offer guidance for businesses and academic institutions expanding into the UAE market.

Speaker

Dr. Ning Shen
Professor, College of Business & Economics, UAE University

Speaker Biography

Prof. Ning Shen holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from City University of Hong Kong, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees from Peking University. Her research spans digital transformation, digital marketing, big data applications, internationalization, and sustainability. With over 100 publications in top-tier journals (e.g., Information & Management, Journal of Business Research) and conferences (e.g., ICIS, PACIS), she has secured 18 research grants (e.g., UAE Foundation, National Research Foundation) and received the "World Economy Top 10 Outstanding Paper Award." She served as Senior Editor of Information Systems Journal (2015–2020) and Founding Vice President of AIS MENA (Academia). Recognized as a "Dubai Conference Ambassador" for leading major conferences (e.g., ICIS, PACIS, ICEB), she has chaired multiple events, including PACIS 2020/21 and ICEB 2017. Currently, she drives ESG research, coordinates sustainability education initiatives under the Middle East and North Africa Business Schools Alliance (MEBAS), and oversees UAE University’s collaborations with Chinese institutions.

Lecture Language

Chinese

Lecture Time

July 7, 2025 (Monday), 14:30–16:30

Venue

Qiu Shi Building, Renmin University of China

Moderator

Dr. Wei Huang, Associate Professor
School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China

Faculty and students are warmly welcome to attend!