The Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of Dubai Economy, organised and hosted a series of webinars to connect with potential investors and partners from the UK and explore opportunities in the strategic sectors of food and agribusiness, technology, healthcare, and logistics.

In step with Dubai FDI’s engagement strategy for 2020, the four-webinar series created a platform for stakeholders to explore foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities at a time when in-person trade missions have been affected by the coronavirus COVID-19restrictions.

His Excellency Mansoor Abdullah Khalfan Juma Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom, said: “The UAE and the UK have a relationship fostered by shared values of security, economic stability, and growth. Strategic partnerships, high-level visits, key initiatives and trade missions strengthen the bilateral relationship. At this time, webinars provide an effective platform for exploring the potential for investment in key sectors.”

The investor outreach, organised in partnership with OCO Global and the British Centres for Business, started on the22^nd ofSeptember 2020, with the food and agriculture sector in focus. Webinars on the technology, healthcare, and logistics sectors followed on 29September, 13 October, and 21 October, respectively.

Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai FDI, said: “The UK and the UAE have a strong bilateral partnership, enriched by continued expansion of investment in each other’s economies. Dubai’s strategic sectors hold tremendous opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs from the UK.”

Al Gergawi added: “The UAE is the largest market for UK exports in the region. It commands 40 percent of the total volume of trade between GCC countries and the UK. Our data show that Dubai received AED 5.7 billion of FDI from the UK in the first nine months of 2019. This is an amazing 187 percent increase over the same period in 2018, underscoring the size of the opportunity for British business in Dubai.”

Dubai has positioned itself as the City of the Future to enhance stakeholder happiness. At the same time, Dubai remains an important gateway to the region’s emerging markets, while its advanced infrastructure positions it as a global hub for trade and investment. The Dubai Advantage was presented to potential investors at the four webinars by Dubai FDI, supported by key Dubai Government entities related to each of the sectors in focus.

Representatives from Dubai Municipality (DM), Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)joined Dubai FDI at the webinar on the food and agribusiness sector. Dubai’s focus on developing a robust food and agriculture ecosystem has proven to be an effective counter to potential international supply chain disruptions this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. As a major re-export centre, Dubai maintains excellent facilities for fresh produce and continues to focus on strategically targeted investments and policies to strengthen the ecosystem. Research and development of agricultural technologies that offer a variety of crops and yields also continues to be an area of focus in Dubai.

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)joined Dubai FDI at the webinar on technology sector. As a prime mover in implementing the emerging technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and incubating high-technology startups, Dubai is one of the first in the world to utilize the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and machine learning, blockchain, financial technologies (fintech) and HealthIT. Along with these, Dubai is focusing on 3D printing, cybersecurity, and geographic information systems (GIS) too.

The healthcare webinar saw representation from Dubai Health Authority (DHA)and Dubai Science Park (DSP) in addition to Dubai FDI. A steadily growing population and a strategic focus on medical tourism makes Dubai attractive for healthcare investment. Opportunities include Centers of Excellence in specialisations such as cardiology, neurology, and rehabilitation. The production of generic pharmaceuticals; the production, sales, and service of medical devices; and medical education continue to be areas of focus for investment in Dubai.

The webinar on logistics opportunities in Dubai had representatives from Jafza and Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) joining Dubai FDI to highlight the Dubai Advantage. Dubai is home to the Jebel Ali, Port the tenth largest container port globally. It also has the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, supported by one of the world’s largest airline networks – Emirates – with over 150 global destinations. Dubai continues to strengthen this foundational sector. An ultra-modern highway system connecting neighbouring countries, along with climate-controlled, 3PL warehousing facilities, adds to the FDI attraction that Dubai represents.

From the FDI perspective, Dubai continues to attract high-quality investment. As a leading global FDI destination, Dubai recorded exceptional growth in FDI during the first six months of 2020, with 190 projects worth AED 12 billion, according to data from Dubai FDI Monitor, which uses Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) methodology to track FDI data.

Medium and high technology investments accounted for 53% of FDI attracted by Dubai in H1 2020, underlining a growing recognition among global investors that Dubai is the ideal place for technology-related investments.