Joint Message from the UAE-UK Business Council’s Co-Chairs

The trade and investment relationship between the UAE and the UK has gone from strength to strength in recent years, from £18.4bn (AED 92bn) in 2020 to over £25bn (AED 130bn) in 2024. The UAE-UK Business Council’s aim is to support the continued growth of bilateral trade and investment in the next few years, with an increasing proportion coming from non-traditional sectors. As both economies diversify and put significant investment into skills, technology and infrastructure, the scope for building new commercial partnerships is growing considerably.

As a thought leadership forum bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and other stakeholders, the UAE-UK Business Council supports the work of both Governments in continuing to reduce the barriers to trade and investment, particularly in new and innovation-rich industries. Our strategic priorities are closely aligned to the ambitions set out in The UK-UAE Partnership for The Future and the Mubadala / Office for Investment Sovereign Investment Partnership.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses will be the driving force of future growth in trade between the UAE and UK, and our membership consists of a healthy balance of large and established corporates and fast growing SMEs from sectors as diverse as life-sciences, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and fintech. We are also keen to include participation from all seven Emirates and from all regions of the UK in our work.

Through our programme of events, campaigns and policy papers, we will foster greater investment, collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the UK and the UAE and create the right environment for a stronger strategic economic partnership. As both our countries pioneer new ways of doing business internationally, in more sustainable and innovative ways, the UAE–UK Business Council will support British and Emirati companies in capturing these exciting new opportunities for collaboration.

Rt Hon Lord Udny-Lister

HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh
Minister of State, Government of the United Arab Emirates

Rt Hon Lord Udny-Lister

Lord Udny-Lister has been UK Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council since 2020.

Prior to this he was Chief Strategic Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Gulf Region.

Lord Udny-Lister has had a lengthy career in Local Government, including as Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning at City Hall, the seat of London’s Government, and Leader of Wandsworth Council. He served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London from 2011-16. He has a considerable background in facilitating large-scale urban regeneration schemes and coordinating major public and private sector partnerships. He also served as Chairman of London and Partners, as a Non-Executive Director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and as Chairman of Homes England.

In 2021 Lord Udny-Lister was appointed Privy Councillor to HM The Queen. He is also currently a Senior Adviser to HSBC and a Director of Gemcorp Capital Management Ltd.

HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh
Minister of State, Government of the United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh was appointed Minister of State in September 2018, he actively supports the Government in initiatives that are core to the economic diversification plans and driving a sustainable future for the UAE.

He currently serves as a Board Member of Abu Dhabi Development Fund, Board Member of Etihad Aviation Group, Deputy Chairman of Emirates Nature – WWF and Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business Council.

His Excellency formerly served as the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Founding Chairman of Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), Founding Board Member of Mubadala Development Company and the Deputy Chairman of First Gulf Bank (Now First Abu Dhabi Bank). He has over 37 years of international business leadership experience, with his early career occupying key executive positions within Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD). His Excellency studied in the US and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Lewis & Clark.