Creative Zone by Encor, the United Arab Emirates’ largest business setup advisory firm, together with South Africa’s Azanyah Trade Hub and co-host of the event, the UAE Embassy in South Africa, will convene a high-level business engagement on 20 October 2025 at The Leonardo Hotel in Sandton.
The event will bring together senior government officials, investors, corporate leaders, and SME champions to explore how South African businesses can leverage the UAE as a springboard for international expansion and investment.
One of the highly anticipated attendees is His Excellency Mahash Saeed Salem Mahash Alhameli, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to South Africa and Dean of the Arab League, whose presence underscores the diplomatic weight and strategic significance of this dialogue. His participation is expected to elevate the discussions, linking commercial objectives to broader bilateral cooperation between South Africa, the UAE, and the wider GCC.
The engagement comes at a critical time for South African companies seeking to diversify beyond traditional trade corridors. The UAE has emerged as a global hub offering investor-friendly policies, 100% foreign ownership, favourable tax regimes, and unrivalled access to capital markets. For South Africa, this translates into practical opportunities across mining and beneficiation, real estate, agriculture, ICT, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.
Through the collaboration, Azanyah Trade Hub will mobilise and support South African businesses ready to internationalise, while Creative Zone by Encor will provide the on-the-ground expertise for structuring, licensing, banking, visas, and long-term compliance in the UAE and GCC. Together, they offer a seamless pathway for entrepreneurs and corporates to establish a presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
“We are proud to extend our expertise to South Africa, having already supported over 75,000 businesses to successfully establish in the UAE,” said Lorenzo Jooris, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Zone by Encor. “This event will demonstrate that expansion into the Gulf is not an abstract idea but a practical, achievable strategy.”
“South African businesses are ready to expand beyond familiar borders, but they need trusted partners who can deliver on both compliance and opportunity,” said Buhlebokukholwa Sibanyoni, Founder and Executive Director of Azanyah Trade Hub. “This engagement is about building concrete pathways to growth, resilience, and new markets.”
Attendance will include leaders from key government departments, Brand South Africa, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, private equity and fund managers, chambers of commerce, provincial development agencies, and sector representatives from mining, healthcare, ICT, and property. The objective is to foster dialogue that translates into actionable outcomes, investment linkages, and long-term partnerships.
