Dubai Chambers, in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), has unveiled the Chamber Benchmarking Tool. The new platform enables chambers of commerce worldwide to adopt global best practices, measure their performance against regional and international benchmarks, and strengthen their operational excellence across seven core roles and responsibilities.
These roles include Economic Research & Business Intelligence; Advocacy & Policy Representation; International Trade & Investment Promotion; Training, Skills Development & Workforce Support; Networking & Business Collaboration; Advisory & Support Services; and Legal & Dispute Resolution.
The Chamber Benchmarking Tool was officially launched during Dubai Chambers’ participation in the 14th World Chambers Congress (WCC), hosted by the WCF from 2–4 September in Melbourne, Australia. The initiative was introduced to more than 1,200 chamber leaders and officials representing over 100 countries. As the leading global gathering of chambers, the WCC is an important platform for sharing knowledge, exchanging expertise, and strengthening international cooperation.
The tool has been designed to transform the global chamber ecosystem by redefining the role and value chambers deliver to their business communities. It seeks to enhance institutional effectiveness, empower chambers to provide better services, optimise processes, and achieve higher levels of operational performance.
The framework evaluates seven essential functions of chambers worldwide. At the core is Economic Research & Business Intelligence, which focuses on gathering and analysing economic data to inform policy, decision-making, and competitiveness through research, benchmarking, and digital solutions.
The second function, Advocacy & Policy Representation, highlights representing business interests through evidence-based policy advocacy, stakeholder dialogue, and participation in regulatory and trade platforms. International Trade & Investment Promotion supports global competitiveness by driving trade facilitation, investment attraction, and advocacy on trade policies.
Training, Skills Development & Workforce Support strengthens human capital by delivering training programmes and initiatives that promote innovation, employability, and resilience. Meanwhile, Networking & Business Collaboration connects businesses and industries by fostering cross-sector partnerships and hosting platforms for knowledge and opportunity sharing.
Advisory & Support Services provide tailored guidance on SME growth, ESG adoption, and digital transformation, helping businesses navigate changing markets and regulations. Finally, Legal & Dispute Resolution offers arbitration, mediation, and legal advisory services to ensure fair and effective dispute resolution.
Beyond these roles, the tool also measures internal operational excellence across dimensions such as Strategic Alignment and Execution, Process and Resource Efficiency, Partnerships, Member Engagement and Satisfaction, People and Culture, Innovation and Adaptability, Governance, and Financial Impact.
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.”
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 is a digital, data-driven platform that allows chambers to measure performance against global benchmarks, identify gaps, and unlock growth opportunities. The system provides customised recommendations tailored to each chamber’s specific context while also offering access to a centralised knowledge base of international case studies. This feature supports better planning, encourages innovation, and enhances collaboration across chambers worldwide.
The tool equips chambers with a comprehensive framework for self-assessment and comparative analysis, helping them identify areas for improvement and adopt solutions aligned with global best practices. It also serves as a strategic intelligence platform, enabling chambers to anticipate emerging trends, improve performance, and build resilience. By driving data-informed decision-making and knowledge sharing, it helps chambers strengthen their role in supporting business communities.
Dubai Chambers developed the Chamber Benchmarking Tool under the guidance of a steering committee of local and international experts. Its multi-stage development included a comparative study of 19 chambers of commerce from around the world, assessing their functions, services, and initiatives.
This analysis laid the groundwork for defining the core roles and responsibilities that underpin the benchmarking framework. Global business trends were incorporated to build a comprehensive assessment model, which culminated in the final design of the evaluation mechanisms.
(Inputs from WAM)
