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H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah: “This initiative reflects Dubai’s position as a global hub for excellence and institutional innovation. It aligns with the emirate’s commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future for business communities worldwide.”
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John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): “The launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool marks a milestone in empowering chambers worldwide with the insights they need to thrive. We are grateful to Dubai Chambers for their leadership and expertise, which have been pivotal in bringing this vision to life.”
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The tool evaluates seven core roles and responsibilities that are vital to chambers globally, along with critical dimensions of operational excellence.
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The launch took place during the World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, Australia, attended by more than 1,200 representatives from over 100 countries.
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Designed to transform the global chamber model, the initiative seeks to enhance the value delivered to business communities worldwide.
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It leverages a data-driven digital platform to measure performance and provide strategic insights for chambers of commerce.
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The tool supports decision-making, trend identification, and operational efficiency improvements through in-depth analysis.
Dubai Chambers, in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), has launched the Chamber Benchmarking Tool, an advanced platform designed to help chambers of commerce access global best practices and compare their performance against regional and international benchmarks.
The tool measures operational excellence and evaluates seven fundamental roles that define chambers worldwide: Economic Research & Business Intelligence; Advocacy & Policy Representation; International Trade & Investment Attraction; Training & Skills Development; Networking & Business Collaboration; Advisory & Support Services; and Legal & Dispute Resolution.
Launched at the World Chambers Congress
The initiative was officially introduced during the 14th World Chambers Congress (WCC), held from 2–4 September in Melbourne, Australia. The event brought together over 1,200 leaders and senior representatives from more than 100 countries, making it the world’s largest gathering of chamber officials.
As the premier global platform for chamber networking and knowledge exchange, the WCC provided an ideal stage to showcase the Benchmarking Tool and its transformative potential.
Empowering Chambers Through Innovation
The Chamber Benchmarking Tool is designed to redefine the role of chambers of commerce in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. By providing a data-driven, user-friendly digital platform, it empowers chambers to:
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Evaluate institutional performance
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Identify emerging global trends
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Improve service delivery and operational processes
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Make informed, strategic decisions backed by real insights
This innovative initiative underscores Dubai Chambers’ growing influence in shaping the future of global business ecosystems while supporting chambers worldwide in achieving higher standards of efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability.
Roles and Responsibilities
The tool assesses seven core roles and responsibilities that are fundamental to chambers worldwide. At the forefront is the Economic Research & Business Intelligence role, which focuses on collecting and analysing economic data to inform decisions, shape policy, and enhance competitiveness through research, benchmarking, and digital platforms.
The second key area is Advocacy & Policy Representation, which involves representing business interests through research-based advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and participation in trade and regulatory forums. The International Trade & Investment Attraction role supports global trade and investment by facilitating internationalisation, trade policy advocacy, and investment promotion services.
The Training, Skills Development & Workforce Support dimension equips individuals and businesses with skills, training, and workforce initiatives to boost employability, innovation, and resilience. In terms of business connectivity, the Networking & Business Collaboration role fosters strategic connections and cross-sector partnerships through events, platforms, and initiatives.
The Advisory & Support Services role helps businesses grow and comply with regulations through tailored advisory services in areas like SME development, ESG, and digital transformation. Finally, the Legal & Dispute Resolution dimension assists businesses with legal challenges through arbitration, mediation, and advisory services to ensure fair and efficient resolution.
Operational Excellence
The tool also assesses key dimensions of internal operational excellence. These dimensions include Strategic Alignment and Execution, Process Excellence and Resource Efficiency, and Partnerships, in addition to Member Engagement and Satisfaction. They also cover People and Culture (Employee Engagement & Leadership), Innovation and Adaptability, Governance, and finally, Financial and Commercial Impact.
H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “This initiative reflects Dubai’s position as a global hub for excellence and institutional innovation. It aligns with the emirate’s commitment to shaping a more resilient and sustainable future for business communities worldwide by promoting cross-border collaboration, fostering knowledge-driven partnerships, and advancing agile, forward-looking solutions to navigate an evolving economic landscape.”
H.E. Lootah added: “We remain committed to strengthening the role of chambers of commerce as enablers of economic growth. Our objective is to empower chambers to better support the private sector and boost competitiveness by embracing global standards of excellence that drive operational efficiency and deliver tangible economic impact.”
“The launch of the Chamber Benchmarking Tool marks a milestone in empowering chambers worldwide with the insights they need to thrive,” said John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). “We are grateful to Dubai Chambers for their leadership and expertise, which have been pivotal in bringing this vision to life.”
The Chamber Benchmarking Tool provides a data-driven digital platform that enables chambers to benchmark their performance against global standards. By identifying performance gaps and growth opportunities, the tool provides a clear pathway for enhancement aligned with international best practices.
Offering valuable, systematic benchmarking insights, the tool delivers tailored recommendations to suit each chamber’s unique needs. It also unlocks access to a continuously updated centralised library of global case studies, enhancing strategic planning, encouraging innovation, and supporting collaboration between chambers of commerce around the world.
The tool equips chambers with a comprehensive framework for self-assessment and comparative analysis, enabling the identification of improvement opportunities. It offers case-specific recommendations drawn from a curated database of global best practices. Additionally, it serves as a strategic intelligence platform that supports chambers in identifying emerging trends, boosting operational performance, and enhancing future-readiness. By promoting data-informed decision-making and facilitating global knowledge exchange, the platform helps build stronger, more agile chambers.
Dubai Chambers developed the Chamber Benchmarking Tool under the strategic guidance of a steering committee comprising leading local and international experts. The multi-stage development process began with an in-depth analysis of 19 diverse chambers of commerce from around the world, including a detailed comparative study of their roles, services, and initiatives. This research formed the foundation for identifying the core functions and responsibilities that serve as the tool’s benchmarking pillars. Global business trends were also integrated into the development, informing the creation of a comprehensive evaluation framework and culminating in the finalisation of robust assessment mechanisms.
To learn more about the Chamber Benchmarking Tool and the benefits it offers for chambers worldwide, please visit: https://www.dubaichambers.com/en/chamber-benchmarking-tool