Building GCC and UK partnerships for a decade of action

British Government figures indicate that UK trade with the Middle East amounts to $57.2 billion annually, with the Gulf Region accounting for $50.8 billion. The two regions are experiencing a time of advantageous trade opportunities and a period of rapid growth and diversification.

With so much opportunity for bilateral trade and investment, the virtual GCC-UK Trade Summit will bring together commercial opportunities, experts, live projects, and potential suppliers to explore and encourage trade and investment over the next decade.

What will happen at the event?

The GCC-UK Trade Summit aims to facilitate foreign direct investment, business, and trade between GCC and the UK, providing a platform for business to expand into new markets and build networks. It will present some of the most prominent projects currently underway in the GCC, providing updates and highlighting investment and cooperation opportunities.

The summit will also host insightful discussions and presentations on subjects that are most relevant to the UK and GCC business communities, delivering key insights through expert speaker panels, case studies, sectoral analysis, high-level conversations, interviews, and networking opportunities.

Who will be speaking?

Delegates will hear from a line-up of 20+ industry-leading figures, interviewers, and senior management of megaprojects including:

  • Dr Abdel-Aziz Aluwaisheg, Assistant Secretary-General for Political & Negotiation Affairs, Gulf Cooperation Council 
  • Khalid Al Zayani OBE, Chairman, Bahrain British Business Forum
  • Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority
  • Julian Lynn, Regional Head, Middle East and Asia Pacific, UK Export Finance
  • Alistair Gosling, Advisory Board Member, Qiddiya
  • Frank Kane, Senior Business Editor and Anchor of Frankly Speaking, Arab News
  • Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Managing Director, Dubai Industrial City

The agenda explores important topics including GCC economies and investment overview, investing in the UK, stimulating economic growth and development, attracting foreign investment, environmental sustainability, future economic outlooks, and regional opportunity sector developments.

What language will the event be in?

The GCC-UK Trade Summit will be held virtually via our dual-language English and Arabic event platform, Malga. Delegates will be able to choose which language they attend in to ensure a seamless, engaging and successful event of collaboration, business, and networking.

Key agenda topics

A full agenda for the summit will be published in due course. Topics will include:

  • GCC economies and investment overview

  • Regional strategic partnerships, trade and investment

  • Government initiatives: stimulating economic growth and development, and attracting foreign investment

  • Investment in infrastructure

  • The case for environmental sustainability in the GCC

  • Megaprojects and investor opportunities

  • Trade finance for exporters

  • Opportunity sectors for investors