The event brought together over 170 entrepreneurs, investors, and company representatives from the Transylvania region and Bucharest, as well as international businesspeople interested in collaboration opportunities with the UAE market. Sectors represented included real estate, IT & Tech, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, food industry, HoReCa, healthcare, professional services, and technology, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the regional business environment.
A highlight of this year’s edition was the first-time participation in Romania of the Dubai-based real estate developer One Development, the first company of its kind from the UAE to officially attend a regional business forum in Romania. The company’s representatives presented key data and information that any investor interested in the UAE real estate sector should consider prior to making an investment. Their presentation covered major projects developed in the Emirates, as well as strategic aspects such as areas of interest in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, high-yield project types, demand dynamics in the residential and mixed-use segments, and local market particularities in terms of regulations and investment structure.
Moreover, they expressed openness to identifying investment opportunities and partnerships in the Romanian market, highlighting the potential for bilateral collaborations in residential developments, mixed-use projects, and international real estate initiatives.
Organizers and Initiators of the Economic Dialogue
The event was organized with the direct involvement of the local business community, under the coordination of Mr. Lucian Pop, CEO of Creative Home and initiator of the Romania-UAE Business Summit.
Alongside him, as co-organizers, the law firms Al Safar & Partners Advocates & Legal Consultants and PGC Partners Attorneys at Law, represented by Mr. Paul-George Căta, Partner Attorney, played an active role. They were essential both in organizing and coordinating the event and in presenting relevant legal aspects regarding the expansion of Romanian entrepreneurs into the UAE (e.g., applicable legal framework, company registration process, necessary contracts).
Additionally, the team actively facilitated dialogue between Romanian entrepreneurs and representatives of the business community from the UAE and internationally, providing clarity on the applicable legal framework and concrete support for structuring potential international partnerships.
Institutional Participation and Official Opening
The economic dialogue took place in the presence of representatives from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Romania, who emphasized the UAE’s ongoing interest in strengthening economic cooperation with Romania, particularly with the Transylvania region, recognized for its industrial, technological, and agricultural potential.
Also in attendance at the meetings and event were Mr. Viorel Băltărețu, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, and Mr. Viorel Badea, Consul General of Romania in Dubai, representing the Romanian Consulate General in Dubai, whose presence reinforced the institutional and diplomatic dimension of the event.
In this context, the delegation was officially received at the City Hall of Cluj-Napoca, where an institutional meeting with Mayor Emil Boc took place. The discussions, held in the City Hall’s Glass Hall, focused on strengthening bilateral economic relations between Romania and the UAE and developing Cluj’s economic and innovation potential.
During the meeting, Mr. Hamdan Khalifa Shaheen Khalifa Almarar, Head of the Economic, Political, Media, and Public Diplomacy Section at the UAE Embassy in Romania, presented the vision for developing economic relations between the two countries and opportunities for cooperation in strategic sectors. Additionally, the potential initiation of a partnership between the city of Cluj-Napoca and a city in the UAE was discussed, serving as a foundation for joint projects in areas such as modern public administration, investment, and exchange of best practices.
Subsequently, the program continued at Casino – Urban Culture Center, where the Romania–UAE Strategic Bridge Business Event was held, featuring thematic presentations on the development of bilateral relations, the role of economic diplomacy, investment perspectives, legal aspects necessary for expanding businesses into the UAE, and partnership formation. Discussions included representatives from the Romanian Government, Cluj County Council, the diplomatic corps, and business leaders from Romania and the UAE.
Through this official meeting and the related events organized within the forum, Cluj-Napoca reinforces its position as an active European city, open to international partnerships and focused on sustainable economic development.
Legal and Strategic Support for Expansion into the UAE
The presence of representatives from Al Safar & Partners Advocates & Legal Consultants and PGC Partners Attorneys at Law, as organizers and legal partners of the event, provided a practical and applied dimension to the discussions.
Topics addressed included:
- Available legal structures and suitable jurisdictions for company formation in the UAE (Mainland vs. Free Zones);
- Tax regimes and investment incentives;
- Investment protection mechanisms;
- Strategic partnerships and joint ventures between Romanian and Emirati companies;
- Concrete steps for accessing the Abu Dhabi and Dubai markets.
Through their interventions, the organizers presented a structured overview of the applicable legal framework in the UAE and responded directly to entrepreneurs’ questions, providing clarity and access to verified information, essential for making informed investment decisions and generally difficult to obtain without specialized assistance.
Applied Networking and B2B Meetings
The event included extensive networking sessions and B2B meetings, during which Romanian entrepreneurs had the opportunity to present their projects directly to representatives and potential foreign partners interested in investments or commercial collaborations.
Discussions also focused on:
- Export of agri-food and industrial products to the UAE;
- Real estate developments and infrastructure projects;
- Investments in technology and digitalization;
- Projects in the energy and sustainability sectors.
The atmosphere was solution-oriented, and the strong interest shown by both sides confirms the high potential of the Romania–UAE economic relationship.
A Strategic Bridge between Romania and the United Arab Emirates
The Romania–UAE Strategic Bridge Cluj 2026 marks a new step toward strengthening bilateral economic dialogue through the direct involvement of entrepreneurs, private sector organizers, and legal partners specialized in international transactions.
Through the initiative of Lucian Pop and the collaboration between Creative Home, Al Safar & Partners Advocates & Legal Consultants, and PGC Partners Attorneys at Law, as well as the first-time presence of the developer One Development, the event demonstrated that the development of Romania–UAE economic relations can be effectively supported through well-structured public–private partnerships and a strategic, results-oriented approach.
We would like to extend our thanks to:
I. Event Sponsors:
- Devoratorii De Marketing
- OneDigital
- NOA
- Kibo Cabins
- Ready2Print
- Vitamizu
- Prima Invest
- Creative Home
- Al Safar & Partners Advocates & Legal Consultants
- PGC Partners Attorneys at Law
II. Media Partners:
- Ardeal Business
- Davos Media
- Cluj24 and Alba24
- Transilvania Business
We sincerely thank all the sponsors and media partners of the event. The story continues, and we are already planning the next Romania–UAE Business Summit to further strengthen bilateral economic dialogue and international partnerships. Interested readers can access the official website and our social media pages for more information: LinkedIn | Instagram.
