The move underlines the growing importance of bilateral economic and financial relations between the Gulf Arab states and China. 

Emirates NBD announced the investor meetings just days after reports it had been considering a Swiss franc-denominated issue.

The lender, the emirate's largest, has picked HSBC, Standard Chartered, and its own unit, ENBD Capital, to run the roadshows, which will take place in Hong Kong and Singapore from Feb. 22. 

An offshore Chinese renminbi-denominated bond may follow, subject to market conditions, the statement added. 

"While many global entities have tapped the dim sum market in recent months it remains a new market for GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) borrowers," said Chavan Bhogaita, head of markets strategy unit at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. 

"Should this deal prove to be successful, and attract strong demand, it could be significant in terms of highlighting another potential pool of liquidity for GCC issuers." 

Last month China signed a bilateral currency swap agreement with the UAE worth 35 billion yuan ($5.54 billion), China's first currency swap deal in the Middle East, in a move to boost two-way trade and investment.

In the first 11 months of 2011 trade between China and the UAE grew to $32.0 billion in value, a rise of 38.2 percent on the same period in 2010, according to Chinese customs data. Chinese exports to the UAE, worth $24.3 billion, dominated that trade.  

Meanwhile the central banks of China and Qatar earlier this month agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas including the development of their financial markets.