Port City Colombo Forum in Dubai positions Sri Lanka as South Asia’s gateway for UAE business expansion, highlighting the country’s growing role as a regional investment destination and reinforcing efforts to attract Gulf-based businesses seeking opportunities across South Asia.
Port City Colombo Forum in Dubai positions Sri Lanka as a strategic investment hub
The high-profile investment forum, titled “Globalisation and the Sri Lankan Opportunity – From Recovery to Relevance: Sri Lanka’s Moment in the Evolving Global and Regional Economy,” was jointly hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, and CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd.
Held at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, the invitation-only event brought together nearly 200 senior corporate leaders, investors, business chamber representatives and policymakers from the UAE and Sri Lanka. The gathering reflected growing international interest in Sri Lanka’s economic transformation and the investment opportunities emerging through Port City Colombo.
Senior executives representing leading regional and global companies, including Sobha Realty, Binghatti, Oracle, Emirates Airlines, First Abu Dhabi Bank, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, IFS, Danube and Samana Developers, attended the forum, underscoring the breadth of engagement from key sectors such as real estate, technology, finance, aviation and professional services.
Opening the forum, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Prof. Arusha Cooray, highlighted the long-standing relationship between Sri Lanka and the UAE, built on decades of trade, investment and people-to-people connections. She noted that the next phase of the partnership would focus on positioning Sri Lanka as a platform for UAE businesses looking to expand into South Asia’s rapidly growing markets.
The keynote address was delivered by Ghanim Al Falasi, CEO of Falak Tayyeb Platinum and Senior Vice President and Director General’s Office for Dubai Silicon Oasis. Drawing on his experience within the UAE’s innovation and technology ecosystem, he described Colombo and Dubai as complementary business hubs that can work together to facilitate regional trade, investment and business expansion.
A key theme throughout the event was the strategic role of Port City Colombo in Sri Lanka’s long-term economic development strategy. Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment Hanif Yusoof told participants that Sri Lanka should no longer be viewed merely as a recovery story but as a transformation story, offering investors a stable and increasingly competitive platform for regional growth.
He emphasised that the country now provides a unique combination of geographic proximity, institutional credibility and investment readiness, positioning it as an attractive destination for UAE businesses seeking access to South Asia. Drawing parallels with Dubai’s role as a gateway to the Middle East and North Africa, Yusoof argued that Port City Colombo can serve as a similar gateway to South Asia.
Colombo Port City Economic Commission Chairman Harsha Amarasekera provided an update on the project’s recent progress, noting that strong investor interest over the past 12 to 18 months has translated into tangible commercial momentum. He stressed that Port City Colombo is designed to complement existing Gulf business ecosystems rather than compete with them, offering companies a strategic base from which to expand into neighbouring markets.
Further insights into the project’s regulatory framework were provided by Commission Director General Revan Wickramasuriya, who outlined the investor protection mechanisms, tax incentives and rules-based governance structure that underpin the Special Economic Zone. He noted that the framework was specifically designed to meet international investment standards and attract globally mobile capital.
The forum’s centrepiece was a panel discussion examining shifting global business models, strengthening Gulf-South Asia economic ties and Sri Lanka’s emerging role within the changing regional landscape. Industry experts shared perspectives on investment trends, governance, real estate development and international capital flows, generating strong interest among attendees.
A significant development announced during the event was the appointment of Mujtaba Shaikhani, Founder and Principal of MH Investments and Managing Director of Gulf O Flex, as Strategic Partner and Director for GCC and Pakistan of CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd. The appointment is expected to strengthen Port City Colombo’s engagement with investors across the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Pakistan.
Closing the forum, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Alexi Gunasekera, highlighted the considerable potential for expanding trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and the UAE. He encouraged business leaders to view Sri Lanka not through the lens of past challenges but as a country entering a new phase of growth and opportunity.
The event represents a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to deepen economic engagement with the Gulf region. By showcasing its investment reforms, strategic location and institutional framework, Port City Colombo is increasingly positioning itself as a gateway through which UAE businesses and investors can access South Asia’s next phase of economic growth.