The UAE and Scotland are exploring investment opportunities in sectors based on innovation and the knowledge economy

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Edinburgh, 19 December / WAM / Investopia organized the “Investobia – Edinburgh” event within the Investopia Global Dialogues, in cooperation with the Scottish Government, with the aim of exploring investment cooperation opportunities, strengthening partnerships between the UAE and Scotland, and supporting direct communication between the business communities on both sides, with a focus on sectors based on innovation and the new economy.

An elite group of government officials, business leaders and investors from the UAE and Scotland participated in the event. From the UAE side, His Excellency Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Hawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment, His Excellency Mohammed Juma Al Musharrakh, Executive Director of the Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment Office (Invest in Sharjah), and David Tabet, Chief Operating Officer at Investopia, attended from the UAE side. From the Scottish side, Her Excellency Kate Forbes, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Gaelic Language, and Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Business Development.

His Excellency Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al-Hawi said, on this occasion, that the UAE and Scotland share a similar path of economic development. They are both resource-rich economies that are working to implement an ambitious agenda for diversification and transition from traditional industries to future enabling sectors. The two countries are linked by deep, multi-dimensional relations, based on strategic investments and close cooperation between governments and the business sector, through partnerships extending to the fields of energy, infrastructure, technology and financial services.

He added that the UAE continues its commitment to strengthening partnerships that support flexible and resilient economic growth, while providing Scottish companies with an attractive platform for regional and global expansion based on clarity of vision, stability of the investment environment, and access to promising future sectors.

For her part, Her Excellency Kate Forbes said that the UAE and Scotland have common visions to enhance cooperation in strategic economic sectors, which include investment, education, technology, and renewable energy, noting that the meetings and mutual visits between the two countries during the recent period reflect the common desire to continue expanding the partnership in a way that contributes to stimulating investments in the most dynamic sectors in Scotland, and supporting the UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy, and providing innovative solutions that serve the development goals of both sides.

For his part, David Tabet stressed that “Investobia-Edinburgh” reflects Investopia’s commitment to enhancing investment dialogue and building effective communication bridges between global markets, noting that Investopia, since its launch in 2021, has become a reliable global platform for transforming dialogue into partnerships, and partnerships into investments that support sustainable growth and readiness for the future.

He explained that the event represents an important milestone for enhancing dialogue between the UAE and the United Kingdom, especially Scotland, as it brings together decision-makers and business leaders to explore opportunities for cooperation and build long-term investment corridors, pointing out that Investopia continues its role in linking ideas with opportunities and strengthening cross-border partnerships.

The discussions during the event focused on reviewing the available investment opportunities, highlighting priority economic sectors, and discussing mechanisms for building long-term partnerships that support sustainable economic growth and enhance integration between the investment systems in the two countries.

The event program included a discussion session that reviewed the investment environment in Scotland, the economic development system based on innovation, the leading sectors, and the competitive advantages that Scotland offers to international investors, in addition to highlighting the qualitative opportunities available for cross-market partnerships.

The event also witnessed a session dedicated to understanding the investment environment in the UAE, which focused on the development of the investment system, priority sectors, and the elements that enhance the country’s attractiveness as a regional and global center for quality investments, within the framework of policies that support economic growth and the new economy.

During the event, a strategic round table was held that discussed mechanisms for enhancing investment opportunities, developing partnerships between the two business communities, and exchanging visions on developing joint projects in future sectors, which contributes to supporting the investment corridor between the UAE and Scotland.

On the sidelines of the event, Investopia signed a cooperation agreement with the Scottish Enterprise, aiming to organize the participation of a Scottish delegation in the fifth edition of Investopia in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to be held during the period from March 31 to April 2, 2026, in a way that supports expanding the horizons of investment cooperation and enhancing communication between the business communities in the UAE and Scotland.

The agreement was signed by David Tabet, Chief Operating Officer at Investopia; and Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Business Development.

Investopia-Edinburgh concluded by holding bilateral networking sessions between companies, which allowed participants to explore potential cooperation opportunities and build new investment relationships, in a way that supports integration between the markets of the two countries.