The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the UK’s largest market and the 12th biggest in MENA. The UAE is the regional trading and tourism hub and is home to a number of multinational companies that exploit easy access to markets across Africa and West Asia. With Expo 2020 in Dubai and the Vision 2030 for Abu Dhabi, the UAE is investing in infrastructure, healthcare and education.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are similar markets but with different business cultures. Dubai is the commercial capital and the largest city in the UAE with 1.2 million people. It is a regional hub, servicing the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region. Many of the 5,000 successful UK companies in the UAE are SME’s based in Dubai. Abu Dhabi has a more conservative business culture, focused on helping business as well as organically growing the economy. Both markets are worth exploring.