A call for Scotland’s business leaders to grasp the opportunities being made available with the booming Gulf state of Dubai will be made today (Friday March 18) at an International Forum being held in St Andrews.
The invitation will be issued by Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Principal of Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute.
In a speech to the Scottish Council for Development and Industry International Forum being held at the St Andrews Bay Hotel he will tell the audience of politicians, business leaders and academics that Al-Maktoum Institute has been established to implement the Deputy Ruler of Dubai’s vision for education and multiculturalism and to act as the Gateway to Dubai for Scotland.
Professor El-Awaisi will detail the initial practical steps that have already been achieved between Dubai and Scotland in three short years including Dundee becoming a sister city of Dubai and the establishment of daily flights by Emirates Airlines between Dubai and Glasgow.
Those flights have been so successful that Emirates recently announced they plan to boost the number of seats on this route by more than 50%, less than a year after the introduction of the daily service – an achievement which represents a real success story and a tremendous advantage for Scots who want to do business in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.
Professor El-Awaisi will say: “The fact that Al-Maktoum Institute has established itself in Dundee sends a clear message to those in Dubai that Scotland is a good place to visit and do business.
“The fact that the Deputy Ruler of Dubai is lending his name, his vision and his full support to the Institute is a clear sign that Dubai would like to work to develop this relationship with Scotland but with two-way traffic for the benefit of both countries.
“Dubai has made no secret they want companies based in Scotland to take more advantage of the opportunities provided by Dubai’s booming economic growth. I hope Scotland feels ready to respond to these positive signs. Scotland’s journey to Dubai starts at Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee.
“We at the Institute stand ready to help in any way we can and we’ll be talking further with the Scottish Executive.”
Professor El-Awaisi will also reveal plans are being made for Dubai’s Deputy Ruler, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to visit Scotland later this year. He will be bringing with him a large delegation of business people from the Emirates.
During his visit he will also lay the foundation stone of the new Al-Maktoum Cultural Centre being built in Dundee and present the first Awards for Multicultural Scotland that bear his name.
