Description
The European Commission (EC), through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), will host the EU–UAE Matchmaking Event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 1 – 3 October 2025. This event will be organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism of UAE. It will take place in the context of the WETEX.
The EU – UAE Matchmaking Event will bring together cluster organisations and SMEs from the European Union (EU), non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme/COSME Strand, and UAE-based institutions and companies. The objective is to stimulate Cluster to Cluster (C2C), Cluster to Business (C2B), and Business to Business (B2B) cooperation across sectors aligned with the green and digital transitions.
Focus Areas
The EU– UAE Matchmaking Event aims to foster collaboration between European clusters, SMEs, and UAE partners in key industries, including:
Clean & Renewable Energy (solar, hydrogen, wind, energy storage, sustainable fuel for maritime and aviation)
Energy Efficiency
Water & Waste Management
Green Mobility (EVs, charging infrastructure, hydrogen transport)
Smart Cities & Infrastructure (IoT, automation, smart grids)
Agrifood (A dedicated programme tailored to participants from the Agrifood sector is available in the Agenda section under Extended Value for Agrifood Sector Participants.)
The event will offer:
A high-level seminar, matchmaking sessions, and site visits to strengthen EU–UAE cluster cooperation.
Opportunities to identify shared interests, value chain synergies, and market opportunities for SMEs and businesses.
A platform to enhance EU-UAE collaboration in research, development, and innovation (RDI), linking academia, research institutions, and industries through clusters.
Exclusive guided tour of the exhibition(s), providing insights into the most relevant exhibitors aligned with the sectors covered by this call.
Curated stand visits, enabling participants to engage directly with key exhibitors selected based on their industry focus.
Opportunity to take part in a pitching session.
Possible participation in the Word Green Economy Summit (tbc)
Agenda and activities:
For all participants
Prior to the mission:
Preparatory Webinar – an opportunity to receive information on undertaking business with UAE and guidance on how to participate successfully in the planned event. (3 September 2025)
Technical Webinar – a session helping future participants of the matchmaking event to make the most of their profiling in the B2Match tool and explain the procedures to optimise the booking of meetings. (16 September 2025)
During the mission:
Visit to WETEX - guided exhibition tour, thematic sessions, and exposure to UAE industry leaders. A 1-hour EU pitching session will be explored. (1 October 2025 (tbc)).
(Note: Participants from the Agrifood sector are not required to attend on 1 October and may join the official programme starting on 2 October 2025.)
- EU–UAE Business Seminar & Matchmaking Day (2 October 2025 (tbc))
(Note: All delegates, including those from the Agrifood sector, will participate in this key day.)- Seminar on knowledge exchange to foster EU-UAE cooperation. (
- Pitching and Matchmaking meetings between cluster organisations and SMEs from EU (and non-EU countries participating in SMP/COSME Strand) countries and UAE. (
Debriefing session to collect feedback and testimonials from cluster participants.
- Site Visits (3 October 2025 (tbc))
(Note: All delegates, including those from the Agrifood sector, will participate in this key day.)
Delegates will participate in field visits to innovation hubs and leading sustainability infrastructure projects. Agrifood sector participants will follow a dedicated track, including tailored site visits to agricultural innovation centres, vertical farming demonstrations, and smart food systems facilities in Dubai and/or Abu Dhabi. Additional B2B or institutional meetings may also be arranged.
Extended Value for Agrifood Sector Participants
In addition to their full participation in the official matchmaking programme (2–3 October), Agrifood delegates will have a unique opportunity to extend their stay and attend Agra Middle East 2025, the leading agricultural exhibition in the Middle East.
- Dates: 6–7 October 2025
- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre
- Profile: The region’s most prominent agrifood trade show, showcasing innovations in vertical farming, aquaculture, and sustainable agriculture.
- Scale: 150+ exhibitors, 6,000+ visitors from 180+ countries
- Access: Free for professionals with pre-registration
⚠️ Please note:
This optional extension falls outside the scope of the official ECCP-funded programme, and any associated costs must be covered by the participants themselves.
Participation on 1 October 2025 is not mandatory for Agrifood sector participants, who may instead join the mission starting on 2 October 2025.
Call For Expression of Interest & Deadlines
This Call for Expression of Interest is targeting cluster organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises from EU (and non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP)/COSME Strand) countries who wish to participate are now open.
📕Call for Expression of Interest - Clusters: deadline second cut-off date 15 July (Tuesday) 2025, 23:59 Brussels time – Closed!
📕Call for Expression of Interest - SMEs: deadline second cut-off date 15 July (Tuesday) 2025, 23:59 Brussels time – Closed!
EU-UAE Med Matchmaking Event: Info Webinar - 03 September 2025
An Info Webinar was held on 03 September 2025.
Find the presentations from the webinar below:
Master Presentation - download the presentation
WETEX - download the presentation