DUBAI, UAE & GUANGZHOU, CHINA – JULY 2026 – In a strategic step to support cross-border business activity between the Middle East and East Asia, The Corporate Group (TCG), a UAE corporate services provider, Ahmed AlRaeesi Advocates & Legal Consultants (AlRaeesi Advocates), a UAE legal practice, and Win Long Guangdong Law Firm (WLG), a Chinese legal practice, have officially signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU was formalized by Ayman Al Awadhi, Group Managing Director of TCG, and Prof. Mao Delong, Chairman, Group Management, WLG, in Guangzhou, China. The cooperation framework is intended to support cross-border trade and investment and to facilitate coordinated legal, corporate, compliance and advisory support for businesses seeking to establish or expand operations in the UAE/GCC and China.

As trade and investment between the GCC and China continue to grow, businesses operating across these markets face increasingly complex legal, regulatory and operational requirements. The parties intend that this cooperation will help clients access more coordinated support in areas such as corporate structuring, market entry planning, company setup, regulatory compliance and cross-border business expansion.

The collaboration also draws on the cross-border experience of Brent Yap Hon Yean, Deputy Director, Foreign Law Practice, WLG, who has advised on transactions and business initiatives involving the Middle East and Asia.

Prof Mao Delong, Chairman, Group Management, Win Long Guangdong Law Firm, stated: “Expanding across international borders such as China and the Middle East requires absolute legal certainty and deep localized knowledge. By combining the market-leading corporate solutions of TCG with the elite legal competencies of WLG, we are creating more than just an agreement—we are building a secure corridor for sustainable trade, corporate investment, and resilient cross-border partnerships across China and the Middle East.”

Ayman Al Awadhi, Group Managing Director of The Corporate Group, added: “Entering new geographic markets is one of the most critical inflection points in an enterprise’s lifecycle. Success depends heavily on institutional trust. Together with WLG and Al Raessi Advocates; The Corporate Group is providing global founders and multinationals with a secure, turn-key ecosystem. This alliance accelerates market entry by providing strategic market entry advisory, corporate structuring solutions, business incubation opportunities, access to government support, and comprehensive legal compliance.

Ahmed Al Raeesi, Founder & CEO of AlRaeesi Advocates, said: “Businesses expanding between the UAE and China need legal support that is commercially practical, jurisdiction-specific and aligned with their broader strategic objectives. Through this cooperation, we aim to help clients navigate corporate, commercial and regulatory issues more effectively by working alongside trusted advisers in each market.”

Brent Yap Hon Yean, Deputy Director, Foreign Law Practice of Win Long Guangdong Law Firm, stated “Today is a significant day for UAE and China relations as all parties come together to sign this important Memorandum of Understanding. It represents the beginning of a strategic collaboration — one that we envision as the foundation of what we proudly call the “UAE–Greater China Legal and Services Platform”. This initiative was one that I had the opportunity to put forward in the course of my cross-border work — that the growing economic relationship between China, Greater China, with the financial center of the Middle East being the United Arab Emirates deserves a stronger, more structured professional ecosystem.“

The parties also intend to explore joint events, knowledge-sharing initiatives and business development activities over the coming months to support SMEs, investors and multinational businesses seeking to establish or expand operations across the UAE/GCC and China.

THE CORPORATE GROUP (UAE): The Corporate Group (TCG) is a premier UAE-based commercial conglomerate specializing in business setup, corporate services, business consulting, and strategic advisory. TCG acts as a critical enabler for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), guiding multinationals, SMEs, and entrepreneurs securely into the Middle East marketplace through comprehensive corporate solution mechanisms. Learn more at: thecorporategroup.ae/

WIN LONG GUANGDONG LAW FIRM (CHINA): Win Long Guangdong Law Firm is a leading Chinese legal practice with extensive experience in Chinese laws such as corporate law, Chinese regulatory laws, international trade disputes, foreign investment, and intellectual property. Headquartered in Guangzhou since 1997 and operating a legal group of 12 law office branches in China as well as presence in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, Laos, Singapore and Malaysia, the legal firm provides sophisticated legal counsel and representation to leading domestic enterprises expanding globally and international corporations embedding into the formidable Chinese markets. Learn more at: winlonglawfirm.com/en/

AHMED AlRAEESI ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS (UAE): Ahmed AlRaeesi Advocates & Legal Consultants is a UAE legal practice advising local and international clients on corporate, commercial, civil, regulatory and dispute-related matters, including arbitration and matters connected with the DIFC and ADGM. The firm supports businesses, investors and entrepreneurs with legal requirements relating to establishing, operating and expanding their presence in the UAE. Learn more at: alraeesilaw.com/

BRENT YAP HON YEAN is a Dubai-based cross-border legal counsel and strategic advisor, specializing in investments spanning the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. He advises on and facilitates high-value cross-border transactions, joint ventures, regulatory structuring, and market entry strategies for both listed corporations and SME. With a strong regional footprint across the GCC and Far East Asia, Brent is recognised for bridging legal, commercial, and cultural complexities to deliver seamless execution of international ventures and investment initiatives.