Page 150 - ALEF EDUCATION PR REPORT MARCH 2025

3/20/25, 8:40 AM UAE is a 'hugely important economy' for UK, minister says | The National
Some of the UAE's investments in the UK include ports operator DP World’s £2.7 billion ($3.39 billion)
investment in Southampton Port, London Gateway and P&O Ferries as well as Abu Dhabi clean energy

company Masdar’s £4 billion investment in UK renewable energy.

In 2021, the UAE also made a commitment to invest £10 billion in the UK as part of a sovereign

investment partnership agreement between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company and the UK’s
Office for Investment. The agreement focused on investment in the UK’s priority sectors, including

energy transition, infrastructure and technology, over a period of five years, Mubadala said at the time.

“The trade between our two countries has always been very healthy and we would like to develop that

further,” Ms Reynolds added.

Total bilateral trade in goods and services between the UAE and the UK exceeded £25 billion in 2024.

Over 5,000 UK-registered firms operate in the UAE, according to UK government data.

“There is already a GCC-FTA [free trade agreement] that's in development. I think there is room for

more, a more detailed partnership with the UAE on the GCC-FTA,” Ms Reynolds said. She added that the
UK is keen to finalise the deal but “it has to be the right deal for both sides”.

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