The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, began her visit to Dubai, UAE, on April 28. During her trip, she had a fruitful exchange with the UAE Minister of Sports, HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, discussing their visions for advancing their cities as global hubs for major international sporting events and professionalizing the sports industry.
They identified common ground in leveraging sports as an economic driver and fostering community unity through sports participation. Miss Law introduced Hong Kong's commitment to nurturing elite sports talents and highlighted the vibrant horse racing culture. Dr Al Falasi shared the UAE government's efforts to develop sports in the country, and Miss Law invited him to visit Hong Kong to explore further cooperation opportunities.
Miss Law also paid a courtesy call on the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai, Ms Ou Boqian, where she reported on the recent work of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and discussed plans for stronger collaboration between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Ms Ou provided insights into the UAE's cultural and tourism landscape, emphasizing Hong Kong's competitive advantages in high-end tourism, horse racing, and yacht tourism.
In the afternoon, Miss Law attended the Arabian Travel Market 2025, a major event for the Middle East's hospitality industry. She toured various pavilions, engaged with local trade representatives, and explored potential collaborations between Hong Kong's tourism sector and the Middle East market. During the event, two Memorandums of Understanding were signed at the Hong Kong Pavilion between the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and two major Middle Eastern travel agents, Musafir.com and Almosafer International Travel and Tourism Company.
Miss Law also met with Mr Engr Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, and Mr Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, to discuss strengthening partnerships to promote Hong Kong as a premier travel destination for Middle Eastern markets.
In the evening, a dinner reception co-organized by the CSTB, HKTB, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai welcomed around 70 guests from the Middle Eastern tourism industry and Hong Kong travel leaders. In her opening remarks, Miss Law highlighted Hong Kong's diverse tourism offerings and pointed to the new Kai Tak Sports Park as an exciting development for world-class events. She reiterated Hong Kong's commitment to becoming a Muslim-friendly destination and expressed eagerness to deepen ties with the Middle East, encouraging more Hong Kong residents to explore the region for leisure and business.
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