UK business women seek UAE partnerships

The UK top female executives are meeting and networking with successful businesswomen here and are being briefed about the working culture.

The Dubai Business Women’s Council hosting the UK Women Trade Mission delegates in Dubai on Sunday. — Supplied photo

Dubai — A delegation of business women from the UK is currently in the UAE, exploring potential business opportunities and partnerships in the local market. This is following a visit by members of the Dubai Business Women’s Council (DBWC) and Abu Dhabi Business Women’s Council to the UK last May.

While the UAE delegation visited London, Belfast, Manchester and Glasgow, the first UK Women in Business Trade Mission to the UAE is making pitstops in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The UK top female executives are meeting and networking with successful businesswomen here and are being briefed about the working culture.

“Meeting with leading businesswomen here, especially Raja Al Gurg, president of the DBWC, Faiza Al Sayed, vice president, and Khawla Lootah, was inspirational. The scope and breadth of what women in business in this part of the world are involved in is remarkable,” said Teresa Tideman, mission leader and CEO of Jacques Vert Group, UK’s occasion wear women’s retailer.

With the UK government aiming to double exports worldwide to £1 trillion by 2020, there is enormous potential to be tapped in terms of bilateral trade between the UAE and UK. “In fact, UK-UAE trade has already surpassed the £12 billion target set for 2015,” said Karen Williams, deputy director, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Dubai.

An offshoot of the UK-UAE Business Council, this trade mission was also briefed about the UK-Dubai Business Centre, an incubator programme that assists small and medium companies to set up local operations. Seven companies have signed up for the programme in Dubai.

The delegation was also informed of Ro’Ya, a DBWC initiative focused on providing support, guidance and mentorship to aspiring women entrepreneurs to help them establish their enterprise. “The Council’s support for young entrepreneurs is inspirational. The work groups they are putting together and how are they working to empower women to learn skills is amazing,” said Tideman.

Besides meeting with other British companies doing business in the UAE, the delegation is also networking with multi-sectorial representatives. “There are several common touchpoints where we can support each other and grow our business mutually,” added Tideman.

Meanwhile, the next visit by the UAE Trade Mission to the UK is slated for May this year. “A few young entrepreneurs will be taken along as well. They will be mentored through the visit and get to see international trade first-hand. They will visit Cardiff, London and Glasgow/Edinburgh. We are in the planning stage,” said Williams.

— deepthi@khaleejtimes.com