The UAE CEO Roundtable: International Partnerships and Foreign Direct Investment – the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s strategic partnerships with other countries and efforts to attract foreign investments.
October 30, 2024, Dubai
Pedersen & Partners were pleased to host a new CEO Roundtable discussion in Dubai at the end of October.
The UAE CEO Roundtable focused on the topic of: International Partnerships and Foreign Direct Investment – the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s strategic partnerships with other countries and efforts to attract foreign investments.
Key Insights:
📊 Investment opportunities: The UAE and Saudi Arabia are witnessing a surge in investments, presenting substantial opportunities for collaboration and growth. However, investing in Saudi Arabia comes with its own set of complexities and challenges.
🌍 Regional significance: Large international firms and investors can no longer overlook the importance of the UAE and Saudi Arabia as pivotal business and finance hubs connecting Africa with Asia.
💼 Fascinating business environment: The influx of global investment has fostered a dynamic and engaging business environment that attracts global executives and investors to the region. This milieu offers a platform for mutual learning and collaboration, with governments—including the Financial Centres and Sovereign Wealth Funds— often viewed as supportive partners.
🔭Long-term vision: The UAE and Saudi governments clearly aim to become primary destinations for attracting foreign investments.
Geopolitical influences: Geopolitics play a crucial role in investment decisions, as certain risks in the Middle East region can impact foreign investment confidence.
🚀 Strategic approach to market penetration: Defining the most effective strategy for entering any country involves considering various factors, such as understanding the market landscape and the nature of the country, local legal and cultural considerations, establishing an on-the-ground presence, investing in local talent, and being mindful of cultural and social restrictions. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are no exception.
🏦 Role of the Financial Centres and Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Sovereign Wealth Funds actively seek strategic partners and brand names, while the region’s Financial Centres are known for their ability to attract investors and act rapidly.
👩💼 Promotion of women in leadership: Saudi Arabia is actively pushing for the inclusion of women in leadership positions (including NEDs) and making rapid progress, while the UAE is already quite advanced in that respect. People from outside Saudi Arabia often fail to realise the extent of female participation in business/civil life in general, and the rate of change.
🧩Cultural assessment: A thorough assessment of cultural fit is essential to bridge the gap between foreign investors, future business leaders, and the companies they are partnering with, particularly in this region.