UAE - Dubai

Scottish Development International

Scottish Development International, c/o British Embassy, Al Seef Road, Dubai

Initial Contact: Colin Crabbe - International Manager, Dubai office

Telephone: +971 4 309 4259

Contact Local Office Online

SDI’s Middle East office is based at the British Embassy in Dubai and is led by Colin Crabbe.

We work alongside our UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) colleagues in the region focusing mainly on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.

Key opportunities

  • Construction and renewable energy – Infrastructure investment in the region has ‘boomed’ in recent years creating opportunities for construction in the supply of high-end design engineers and architects as well as for renewable energy companies specialising in sustainable buildings and clean technology
  • Oil and gas – Saudia Arabia holds the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves, accounting for 63 percent of the country’s GDP, while Abu Dhabi in UAE has more than 90,000 million barrels of recoverable crude oil and the world’s fifth largest deposits of natural gas
  • Financial services – There's scope for Scottish fund and investment managers to exercise their expertise to manage the region’s inherent wealth
  • Education and training – Due to rapid population growth and young demographic (65 percent of GCC population is under 25) there's potential for Scottish educational institutes and training providers to tap into the region’s education and training needs

Contact us for market information on key sectors

Export from Scotland

We maintain close relationships with Scottish companies in the region and if you're a newcomer to the Middle East market we'll support you to partner, export and invest there.

Whether you're new to exporting or already growing your business in overseas markets, we can help you explore the Middle East's opportunities and put you in touch with potential business partners.

Companies operating in the Middle East already include Royal Bank of Scotland, Wood Group, Aggreko, Weir Group and Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde Universities.

Help to export

Invest in Scotland

From educational excellence to pioneering innovators, there are a number of reasons to invest in Scotland. If you're looking to partner with Scotland you'll benefit from our:

  • Strengths in innovation, particularly in key sectors such as renewable energy, financial services, electronics and education 
  • A pro-business environment, highly-educated workforce with good transport links and international connections direct to the Middle East as well as to Europe and the US 
  • A world-class education infrastructure with 15 universities, five specialist higher education institutes and excellent teaching resource

Scotland already has a number of successful inward investors from the Middle East including: 

  • Jumeirah Group, which is planning a five star hotel development in Glasgow city centre 
  • TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), which has a strong presence in Aberdeen 
  • Highland Spring which is owned by the Al Tajir family 
  • Turnberry Golf Course and resort is owned by Dubai-based Leisurecorp

Register your interest in partnering and investment opportunities

GlobalScot in the Middle East

Who better to help you explore the Middle East’s potential than our outstanding business professionals who already have a wealth of local market experience?

By offering their time and advice freely our GlobalScot members, of which there are more than 30 active in the region, can help your company with practical advice needed to break into the Middle East market.

These include Gordon Boyle, CEO of BMMI in Bahrain; Guy Crawford, Chief Executive of the Jumeirah Group and Derek Shepherd, MD of Aggreko.

Connect with GlobalScot