UK Businesses Set Their Sights on the Middle East
Who would have thought that British entrepreneurs would suddenly be talking about camel caravans and desert sunsets instead of London stocks and supermarket deals? It turns out that the hot spot for next‑generation investors is a whole new continent, and the data is as striking as a fire‑breathing dragon.
The Numbers Add Up
- 36 % of UK chief executives now view the Middle East as a prime investment playground for the next five years – up from just 18 % a few years back.
- Asia is also catching the eye: interest climbs from 22 % to 32 % as firms aim to pump up their global market share.
- Europe still takes the front seat with a whopping 55 % of companies pinning their hopes on it.
- US investments remain steady at 42 % today, but looming trade war worries (remember the Trump tariffs) could put a dampener on future deals.
Why the Middle‑East Rally?
- The region offers economic dynamism – think booming fintech hubs and energy innovation.
- Strategic advantages are abundant: “beyond the hedonistic beaches,” as Peter the Partner at Pagefield puts it, “there’s real business potential.”
What the UK Government Can Do
- 81 % of UK firms insist that the Government should play a bigger role in smoothing overseas expansion.
- Nearly one third (31%) see Free Trade Agreements as the hand‑shake that could make everything click.
- 19 % worship tax incentives, especially enterprise zones and tax carve‑outs.
- Economic stability, a talented workforce, and a solid commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion also rank high – essentially looking for a recipe that tastes great on the boardroom table.
Open Arms, Open Buses
Former Permanent Secretary John Alty rapped it best: “If the Government is dutifully providing supply‑chain support and trade agreements, companies will feel the confidence to step into new markets. The UK can be both the brain behind, and the cash that fuels, these adventures.”
Keeping the Pulse on Confidence
Despite supply‑chain hiccups, political uncertainties and tech‑shifts, 91 % of UK managers are still buzzing about cross‑border expansion. That puts UK firms ahead of their US peers, who have just taken the plunge into global markets over the past 12 months.
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