The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and Citi co-hosted a small dinner on Tuesday May 23rd in Dubai in honor of two Citi senior executives who are visiting the company’s regional headquarters in the U.A.E. Brent McIntosh, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Citi, and Candida Wolff, Managing Director and Head of Global Government Affairs at Citi, visited the U.A.E. to engage with businesses and U.A.E. authorities to discuss the country’s evolution from a regional hub to a global business and investment hub. Executives of member companies described their experiences along this journey in the U.A.E.
Shamsa Al-Falasi, the newly appointed CEO of Citi’s U.A.E. Onshore Operations, and Rula Dajani, Head of Government Affairs MENA, introduced Brent and Candida and welcomed a select group of U.A.E.-based business leaders to dinner. U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright and Dayle Carden, Senior Advisor at the Business Council, moderated a discussion on a variety of topics including the U.A.E.’s business-friendly policies that continue to attract U.S. companies to the country. Discussion also centered on changes to the U.A.E.’s digital policies, and regional dynamics, particularly in light of the Abraham Accords and recent developments in Saudi Arabia.
His Excellency Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of Dubai FDI, gave an overview of planning and efforts designed to bring more business, investment, and trade to Dubai and the U.A.E., as well as maintain and support companies that already have established operations there. Tech companies in attendance discussed the U.A.E.’s consultative approach to developing new digital laws and regulations and inconsistencies in the application of law and policy in the different Emirates. Other member companies discussed healthcare reform, and the U.A.E. government’s openness to collaborate with U.S. companies on healthcare innovation. And, a brief discussion around the table focused on the important role of the private sector for COP28.
Citi’s journey in the U.A.E. started in 1964 when it opened its first branch in Dubai. In 2006, Citi opened its regional Middle East office at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In 2018, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) granted Citi a license to set up a branch at ADGM that provides liquidity management solutions to Citi’s clients looking to establish regional treasury centers in the U.A.E.
For more information on the Business Council’s activities please contact Graham Reitman at greitman@usuaebusiness.org.