The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, in partnership with the U.A.E. Embassy and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, hosted Ibrahim Al Janahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) for a roundtable business luncheon today in Seattle.  Mr. Al Janahi was joined by Saud H. Al Nowais, Commercial Counselor in the Embassy’s Trade & Commercial Office; His Excellency (H.E.) Abdulla Al Saboosi, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates Consulate General in Los Angeles; Stephanie Wright, Councilmember of Snohomish County Council and Treasurer at the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle; and Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council for a panel discussion about business and trade opportunities in Jafza, Dubai, and the greater MENA region.

After welcoming the audience, Mr. Al Janahi presented a documentary video highlighting the U.S.-U.A.E. trade relationship. Public and private-sector stakeholders specializing in manufacturing and trade, logistics and warehousing, aerospace, and medical verticals were treated to a wealth of information about the investment climate in the Emirate of Dubai as well as Jafza’s strategies to provide American businesses with further development potential.

“Dubai’s ultra-modern infrastructure and integrated business community caters to trade and logistics in the entire Middle Eastern region. Jafza, as a leading free zone in Dubai, is a prominent logistical and manufacturing hub attracting multinationals from around the world, including the U.S.”

He stressed, “The U.S. is one of our leading partners with some of its most reputed companies based in Jafza. Through this roadshow, we aim to promote free trade and investment between the two nations as we meet some of the leading companies in the selected business-centric cities.”

“Over 400 U.S. companies are based in Jafza, including some of the Fortune 500 companies from various sectors such as General Motors, HP, Dow Chemicals, Ford, General Electric, Caterpillar, FedEx, Schlumberger, P&G and Johnson & Johnson.”

Councilmember Wright subsequently thanked Mr. Al Janahi for his opening remarks and welcomed the audience before underscoring the economic diversity of Washington State. In her remarks, Ms. Wright said, “The relationship between Washington State and the United Arab Emirates is both strong and important.  The U.A.E. is one of our largest export customers and they purchased more goods from Washington than any other state in 2015.  This partnership will continue to flourish as we seek out new and innovative opportunities in business, trade and education.”

Mr. Al Nowais then thanked Ms. Wright before providing the keynote address, emphasizing the high-growth verticals that have made Washington State the number one exporting state to the U.A.E. in the last five years.

From R-L: Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council with Ibrahim Al Janahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, The Honorable John Stokes, Mayor of Bellevue, Washington, Commercial Counselor Saud Al Nowais, Trade & Commercial Office, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, and Councilmember Vandana Slater, Bellevue, Washington

“The U.A.E.’s mission in the United States is honored to support the Jafza team during their time here in Seattle,” said Al Nowais.  “Washington State is particularly exemplary as it leads all 50 states in total export dollars to the U.A.E., thanks in part to aviation, as well as a number of diverse sectors.  Jafza and DP World’s presence in Dubai as a best-in-class shipping and logistics hub for US companies to operate out of goes further to show that this commercial partnership is truly bilateral.”

H.E. Al Saboosi added, “With the robust U.A.E.-U.S. trade and investment relations, it’s wonderful to see in our event today Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), a unique trade ecosystem, showcasing what it has to offer for U.S. businesses and presenting an opportunity for them to join the many Global Fortune 500 enterprises in utilizing its unique location as well as services. I have seen great interest from U.S. companies wishing to expand their operations overseas, and now they are able to create and set up their business with great ease in the U.A.E. with the help of Jafza and position themselves strategically in the Middle East between Asia and Africa. The U.A.E. has one of the most open economies in the world. The vigorous economic partnership with the United States reflects the U.A.E.’s role as a regional leader in terms of economic reform, openness to international trade and investment, and political stability.”

Following Consul General Al Saboosi’s brief remarks, Mr. Sebright provided the audience with insights into the political and economic climate between the U.S. and U.A.E. He underscored the extensive level of diversification the U.A.E. economy undertook in the last 15 years and the opportunities this has provided for U.S. companies.

“Dubai’s state-of-the-art logistical infrastructure has created enormous opportunities for U.S. businesses to thrive,” said Mr. Sebright. “The U.A.E. has a prosperous American business community in a variety of verticals and is the U.S.’s largest export market in the Middle East and North Africa.” “For example, the U.S. has been at the forefront of the U.A.E.’s aviation growth by bringing Boeing 777s to Emirates and Etihad.”

The floor was opened for a question and answer session. During the exchange, stakeholders were given the opportunity to engage the panel members on the many benefits to forming a business in Dubai and the access the U.A.E. gives U.S. businesses to enter Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African markets.

Mr. Sebright concluded the luncheon by thanking the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle for hosting the event as well as the Seattle business community for attending. Mr. Sebright also gave special thanks to Mr. Al Janahi, Mr. Al Nowais, and Consul General Al Saboosi for providing a high-level and thought-provoking discussion.