Abu Dhabi Trade and Industrial Hub of the Future

The role of Abu Dhabi as a trading and industrial hub of the future was brought into focus during the exclusive business seminar and networking event held at the Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Knightsbridge, London, on the morning of 5 March 2024.

The event marked a special gathering of business executives organised by the ABCC in collaboration with the Embassy of the UAE and with KEZAD Group.

The breakfast event welcomed a high-level delegation of executives from KEZAD Group, which is part of Abu Dhabi Ports, who are leaders in the dynamic economic transformation of the emirate, and which is making an impact right across the UAE and in the wider Gulf region.

His Excellency Mr Mansoor Abulhoul, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the UK, formally opened the proceedings and shared with delegates his own impressions of the enormous transformation that had taken place in Abu Dhabi over the past 40 years.

Indeed, the UAE had become a global powerhouse in less than a lifetime, the Ambassador stated, and pointed to the key pillars of its success in its prime location as a gateway to East and West which had been coupled with its clear vision of creating a balanced economy that reduces dependency on oil revenues.

The Ambassador described the UAE’s economy as open to everyone and paid tribute to KEZAD for being right at the centre of this transformation.

The meeting had been called to showcase to British executives the opportunities available to them in taking advantage of the facilities on offer from KEZAD whose free zones and infrastructure in Abu Dhabi is right at the heart of the vital trade flows between Europe, Asia and Africa.

In her welcoming remarks, ABCC Chairman, Rt Hon Baroness Symons described so many people gathered together at the event as “incredibly encouraging” as they were all focused on a “common purpose of developing closer business relations and taking advantage of the emerging opportunities”.

The meeting continued the constructive collaboration established between the ABCC and KEZAD Group last in evidence at the Arab British Economic Summit 2023 when KEZAD was the headline partner. Baroness Symons paid tribute to KEZAD for its invaluable contribution towards the success of the Summit.

The ABCC Chairman, who chaired the panel discussions at the meeting, reminded delegates that their deliberations were being held against the backdrop ongoing talks between the UK and the GCC towards a new Free Trade Agreement and mentioned that it was only the previous week that Abu Dhabi had hosted a ministerial session where a roadmap for fulfilling the mutually beneficial requirements was on the agenda.

“These talks appear to be progressing remarkably well, and we look forward to their completion which will lay the basis for closer and deeper commercial collaboration between our countries,” Baroness Symons stated.

Prospects for the partnership between Britain and the Gulf as having rarely been better, she said.

In his opening remarks, Mr Bandar Reda, ABCC Secretary General & CEO, expressed thanks to His Excellency the UAE Ambassador for his continued support for the work of the Chamber and also thanked the UK Department for Business & Trade for its cooperation with the ABCC on this and other events.

During the meeting top executives from KEZAD headed by CEO Mr Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed outlined the expanding opportunities that can open up for businesses of all sizes in choosing to locate in Abu Dhabi and make use of KEZAD’s business facilities.

Abu Dhabi has been channelling substantial investment into building up its superb cutting edge infrastructure to provide all that trading companies, exporters and other businesses require to fulfil their ambitions.

The presentations from Mr Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed and his colleagues outlined in great detail how KEZAD Group was leading the field with its integrated trade, logistics and free zones and explained exactly what was on offer for businesses of all sizes, whether startups, SMEs or larger corporates.

Expert insights were shared by Mr Khalid Al Marzooqi, VP, International Business Development for KEZAD Group and Ms Jameela Ahli, Director of Commercial & Business Development, KEZAD, who highlighted the attractions of doing business within KEZAD’s customised facilities.

Presentations were also made by Mr Khalifa Al Mahmoud, Head of Europe & MENA Operations at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Mr Philip Harwood, Regional Investment Director for Middle East, DBT, and Mr Saleh Shahrestani, Founder Chairman of Metal Park, a specialist free zone located at KEZAD.

Mr Reda pledged the ABCC’s continued support for businesses engaged in the Gulf and wider Arab markets.

The ABCC was proud to support KEZAD’s endeavours once again at this meeting which was judged to have been highly successful.

The formal presentations ended with networking over breakfast with opportunities for one-to-one meetings.