The UAE-UK Business Council is a thought leadership forum that brings together senior business representatives, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders from both countries to identify and help to resolve barriers to trade and investment between the two countries.

Through our campaigns, events and policy papers we seek to highlight emerging trends and opportunities for closer commercial collaboration.

We work in partnership with both the UAE and UK Governments, and through our Co-Chairs Rt Hon Lord Udny-Lister and HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh we provide strategic advice to both Governments on the interests and concerns of our member companies and the wider business community.

Lord Udny-Lister

Rt Hon Lord Udny-Lister

HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh

We are guided by an Advisory Committee of eminent business leaders and academics.

We are funded entirely by our members and are supported by a Joint Secretariat (based in both countries) that represents the interests of both UAE and UK member companies and stakeholders.

The Secretariat delivers campaigns and events and prepares policy papers that are submitted to both Governments for consideration. We also help to deliver on the goals of both governments to strengthen the bilateral trade and investment relationship.

Bradley Jones
Chief Executive Officer, UAE-UK Business Council

Bradley Jones has been Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Secretariat of the UAE – UK Business Council since it was launched in September 2020. The Joint Secretariat serves the interests of both UAE and UK members and stakeholders, under the Chairmanship of HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State for the UAE Government, and Lord Udny-Lister.

Bradley spent the first ten years of his professional career as a teacher - in Botswana, Fujairah and Singapore. He then worked in a series of roles in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - including as Private Secretary to five consecutive Ministers in Tony Blair’s Government, as the Head of the UK-India Trade Team, and as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassies in Bangkok and Seoul. He spent three years on secondment to the Royal Household in the UK. More recently, Bradley held executive positions in two large corporates in the education sector in Dubai.

Prior to joining the UAE – UK Business Council, Bradley served as Senior External Relations Officer for the Government of Jersey, where he led on Jersey’s relations with the UAE.

Kawther Taleb
Head of Policy and Campaigns

Kawther joined the UAE-UK Business Council in November 2022, helping to develop the policy, advocacy and campaigns aspect of the Business Council’s mandate. Prior to taking on this role, she began working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, developing social welfare and socio-economic policies and working with vulnerable and marginalised communities affected by political instability within the region. Following this, her role at the Iraqi Embassy in London was focused on projects contributing to development efforts, additionally working alongside the UN, Governments and NGOs in supporting efforts by the international community to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Iraq and its infrastructure.

In 2022, Kawther completed her Masters in International Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London, combining her personal, professional and academic interests.

In her current role at the UAE-UK Business Council, she leads on delivering all of the campaigns, currently ranging from UK-UAE collaboration in energy transition, sustainable investment, sustainable infrastructure and cancer care.