UAE continues to attract UK investors

Dubai / Emirates Business

The UAE’s economic diversification strategy continues to attract interest from UK investors, despite the sustained low oil prices. That was the view shared by Links Group, one the UAE’s leading providers of commercial facilitation and advisory services, following a recent trade mission to London with the Dubai FDI.
“Dubai remains a robust and sustainable market due to the government’s strategy to diversify the national economy by 2021. Developing these new sectors will shore up the economy, but getting there still requires considerable investment and this presents excellent opportunities for investors in the UK,” said Simon Hobart, Director of Links Group.
According to the Dubai FDI, bilateral trade between the UAE and UK is set to reach AED 120 billion by 2020, presenting a host of opportunities for investors. In 2015, trade between Dubai and the UK was worth AED 29.7 billion, and the UK remains one of the top source countries for foreign direct investment (FDI) into UAE.
During the trade mission, a sector-specific briefing on setting up business in Dubai was conducted for members of the Middle East Association (MEA) by Links Group in partnership with the Dubai FDI, and leading research firm and publisher of annual economic resource, The Business Year. Market insight was provided by different speakers on the travel & tourism, construction, healthcare, retail, education, renewables and sustainability sectors.
According to Links Group, recent government initiatives have already helped to boost investment interest among British companies. The introduction of public-private partnerships (PPPs) by the Dubai Government in November 2015 is expected to offer more opportunities for major international contractors and financiers.
“PPPs are seen as a feasible alternative to more traditional procurement models and will allow private investors to take stakes in projects along with the government, bearing part of the risk and sharing profits. Foreign companies must make sure they position themselves correctly via the most suitable means of incorporation to both capitalise on these opportunities, and safeguard their beneficial ownership interests,” added Hobart.
Ibrahim Ahli, Director of Investment Promotion Division at Dubai FDI said: “Over the last few years, the Dubai FDI along with our partners, have enabled a significant number of innovative British enterprises to set up in Dubai and target wider regional markets. As we gear up to Dubai Plan 2021, we look forward to welcoming further UK investors to explore the region’s exciting business landscape and offer them Dubai FDI’s expertise in facilitating foreign investment.”
Ayse Hazir Valentin, Chief Executive Officer of The Business Year commented: “Dubai offers a highly attractive environment for UK companies — as a robust domestic market and as a platform to the broader UAE and GCC region.”

But it’s also an environment where information and trusted partners are vital. I think the level of interest we are seeing for The Business Year’s coverage of Dubai, for the Link’s Group as a prominent and trusted local partner, and for this event all reflect Dubai’s ongoing appeal as an investment destination.”