The Dallas Regional Chamber, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Trade and Commercial Office, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council welcomed a visiting delegation from the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI) today in Dallas, Texas. As Dubai FDI continues its roadshow across multiple U.S. cities, it looks to establish new ties and showcase investment opportunities in the Emirate of Dubai. Ibrahim Al Ahli, Director of Investment Promotion Division at Dubai FDI, highlighted the opportunities and benefits available to U.S. companies, specifically Dallas-area-based organizations interested in learning more about setting up a business in Dubai, U.A.E. Some of the sectors discussed by the delegation included aerospace and aviation, biotech and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics and trade, professional services, and automotive.
Ibrahim Al Ahli, Director of Investment Promotion Division at Dubai FDI
“Dubai’s strategy to sustain growth and overcome challenges has always centered on improving connectivity and opening its doors wider-to people, ideas, and investment,” said Mr. Al Ahli. “Our focus remains on integrating knowledge as the chief economic driver, on embracing technology and innovation, on positioning Dubai as the meeting place for the world.”
Mohammad Al Falasi, Senior Sales Manager, Aviation, advanced the discussion by highlighting the benefits of expanding American Businesses to Dubai South, the emirate’s flagship urban project. Mr. Falasi discussed the impact Dubai South has had and will continue to have on the U.A.E. economy and underlined Dubai South’s Al Maktoum International Airport, which upon completion will be the largest airport in the world and the event site for World Expo 2020. Dubai South will have the capacity of handling upwards of 160 million passengers annually, which would significantly boost business opportunities for American companies looking to do business in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Finally, he emphasized the importance of Dubai South as the preferred location to live, work, and invest.
Mohammad Al Falasi, Senior Sales Manager of Aviation for Dubai South
“The already-operational Al Maktoum International Airport-the world’s largest airport in the making-is the centerpiece of our ambition,” said Mr. Al Falasi. “We are also home to World Expo 2020, a major international event expected to draw participation from 180 countries and attract 25 million visitors to Dubai.”
Other members of the delegation comprised of senior executives from Tecom Group and Emirates Airline. Nasir Abbasi, Commercial Attaché, U.S. Consulate General to Dubai, also participated in the discussion by providing the audience with a snapshot of the U.A.E. while promoting best in class American goods and services.
Alexis Serfaty, Vice President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council
Upon being introduced by Al Hinton, Advisor to Dubai FDI, Mr. Alexis Serfaty, Vice President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, explained that last year, U.S. exports to the U.A.E. continued to exceed outgoing American products to other key trade partners in the broader region, including Israel, Turkey, and India. The U.A.E.’s business friendly environment, in particular Dubai’s state of the art infrastructure, highlights the success of niche sectors with special interest to the U.S. This includes aerospace, logistics, tourism, healthcare, and services that are beneficial to U.S. companies looking to expand their businesses into untapped markets.”
Dubai Investment Development Agency, with the support of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, will continue to tour two other major U.S. cities this month in a bid to attract U.S. investment to the Emirates. Dubai FDI’s tours of Denver and San Francisco will address public and private sector stakeholders over fourteen days with the objective of presenting new and emerging sectors within Dubai’s economic development strategy to U.S. businesses and to highlight the bilateral trade and investment relationship.
