Dubai World Central promotes investment opportunities to American companies through USA Road Show

Dubai World Central, DWC, the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis, has generated strong interest from hundreds of prospective US investors following DWC’s successful participation in a recently concluded five-city road show aimed at strengthening business and investment ties between the UAE and US, and to specifically promote DWC’s state-of-the-art facilities. The Dubai & the Northern Emirates USA Road Show, which gathered a mix of US and UAE government officials, UAE companies, and business organizations to the US, has been held at a time when UAE-US trade volume is seeing steady growth, with exports of US goods to the UAE increasing by 75 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Mohsen Ahmed, Dubai World Central’s Director of Operational Development, and Mohammed Al Falasi, Sales Manager, joined the USA Road Show, which covered New York, Atlantic City, Minneapolis, Seattle and Dallas. 

Dubai World Central conducted a series of presentations for the Road Show to comprehensively showcase the strategic importance of DWC as the Middle East’s first aerotropolis and to attract US businesses and companies to invest and set up operations in DWC, a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai. Moreover, it also presented success stories of global companies that are now operating in DWC, such as Nestlé, Aramex, Ehrhardt + Partner Solutions, Küehne & Nagel, Schaefer Systems International (SSI), Panalpina and Hellmann Caliper. 

The Road Show served as an ideal platform for US companies to gain an in-depth understanding about business opportunities in the UAE and the broader Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region by leveraging the UAE’s advanced transportation and shipping infrastructure. The UAE delegation particularly highlighted the emerging business opportunities for American companies in the areas of power generation and transmission, ports, rail and airports, in light of the major future infrastructure needs of the region. 

Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “The multi-modal infrastructure of Dubai World Central, which is the only one of its kind in the Middle East, is a major attraction for US companies that are seeking to do business in the MENASA region. DWC reinforces the reputation of the UAE as a strategic base with its integrated air, land and sea transportation facilities. Our participation at the Dubai & the Northern Emirates USA Road Show was part of our continuing drive to promote DWC as a catalyst for long-term economic development and a gateway for international companies to penetrate MENASA markets.” 

Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: “The USA Road Show presented the right platform to showcase the UAE’s advanced infrastructure, especially the country’s world-class airports, seaports and free trade zones. Accordingly, Dubai World Central’s state-of-the-art aviation and logistics facilities and groundbreaking multi-modal infrastructure were a key highlight of our presentations during the Road Show, in line with Dubai Government’s goal of positioning transport and logistics as major agents of economic diversification and development.” 

The five-city Road Show served as an ideal platform to highlight the business opportunities for international companies taking part in two highly anticipated aviation industry events taking place within Dubai World Central – the Middle East Business Aviation 2012 (MEBA) event in Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai Airshow 2013 in the Aviation District. 

Robert Bannerman, Principal Commercial Officer at the US Consulate General in Dubai said, “The UAE and the US have nurtured strong economic relations for many years, reflecting the UAE’s role as a regional leader with regard to introducing investor-friendly policies and openness to international trade. The UAE plays a strategic role as a gateway between East and West, and this positively affects business. The USA Road Show paves the way for even stronger business ties between the two countries, as bilateral trade continues its steady year-on-year growth.” 

The UAE delegation was recognized during an international business conference hosted by the University of Minnesota. The event brought together senior delegates from the UAE along with around 100 American executives from companies in Minnesota for a day of corporate briefings, events, and networking opportunities. The delegation also attended the Discover 2012 Global Business Forum in New Jersey, which was supported by the US-Arab Chamber and focused on the topic "Taking the Temperature of the Middle East", highlighting region-wide opportunities. The Forum, which drew more than 200 business leaders from the West coast of the US, included a panel discussion on the geopolitical and corporate climate in the Middle East, and another focused on the UAE as a regional gateway and hub for international trade and commerce. 

A panel discussion was also organized in New York City, highlighting US trade and investment opportunities in the UAE. It tackled the business climate in the Northern Emirates with senior Emirati industry representatives as key speakers. The UAE delegates underlined the importance of the US trip in boosting awareness of business opportunities in the Northern Emirates and fostering trade partnerships between the two countries. The delegation concluded their US trip in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, where they attended an international conference and luncheon that gathered government officials from the US and UAE for a day of corporate briefings, events, and networking opportunities. A panel discussion moderated by Bannerman also formed part of the concluding leg of the tour to highlight commercial and investment opportunities in the Northern Emirates. 

The Dubai & Northern Emirates – USA Road Show was organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, in cooperation with the American Business Council of Dubai & Northern Emirates, National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council.