Member News

Dear BCCD Members and Stakeholders,

As we passed the halfway point of the year, I recently shared a mid-year update, thanking you and our community of businesses and stakeholders for the continued support, and outlining several key milestones from the first half of 2025 that reflect the Chamber’s upward trajectory.

In March, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon David Lammy, announced deeper collaboration between the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the international British Chambers of Commerce network. 

This announcement and formal recognition aligns closely with the BCCD’s long-standing engagement with UK institutions, particularly through industry working groups, trade mission support and weekly coordination with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

At the BCC Global Annual Conference in June, the UK PM Kier Starmer expressed his gratitude of the BCC network as he launched the International Trade Strategy for a Global Britain.

These developments reinforce the value of your Chamber membership at a time when international business links are being prioritised at the highest level.

BCC members are in a great place to benefit from these recent and significant statements and intentions and I urge you to make the most of the BCC Dubai’s team international connectivity.

Key highlights from the first half of 2025

Membership growth and strategic partnerships

• We had a record month in March, welcoming 45 new members to the BCCD! For context, previously as the “BBG” we would see between 9 and 29 each month!
• We celebrated two new Annual Strategic Partners – Fragomen and the University of Manchester. Both bring great value to our existing proposition and align very well to our core values and knowledge transfer capability to members.
• We hosted inbound delegations in collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), including:
  • A UK healthcare mission during Arab Health in January, supported by NHS representatives.
  • A 30-strong delegation from the West and North Yorkshire Chamber, with direct links facilitated between visiting firms and Dubai-based members.
• Our first Doing Business in Dubai briefing in London attracted over 130 delegates from across the UK’s business landscape. A second, broader session followed in Manchester in June, reflecting growing regional interest in the UAE market.
• Working closely with DBT and British Embassy, the BCCD has anticipated a burgeoning British expat and business community in Ras Al Khaimah and we continue to support the growth and interest of the British business community. 
  • We recently hosted two events in RAK, including a business briefing in partnership with DBT on how British companies can align with the UK-RAK Growth Partnership

Content and community

• Our podcast Don’t Do That, Do This! continues to gain traction as our members share lessons learned and transfer knowledge from successful British business owners to those either new to their entrepreneurial journey or new to the region – creating a wider online community and reach. Click here to view all episodes.
  • 18 episodes released since January 2024, with over 1,100 all-time downloads to date
• Our Annual Golf Day at Dubai Creek Golf Club in March set a record as the first fully subscribed tournament in the venue’s history. Early booking is advised for October and March editions.
• We were once again awarded a certificate of recognition from the British Embassy for the facilitation of multiple relationships that have made a significant impact to British nationals in the UAE. 
• Through July and into August, we are seeing record numbers attending our BCCD Joint Summer Networking Series, collaborating with other international business councils to provide wider networking opportunities for members. Every session has been fully booked so far, with 70-90+ guests joining each event and demonstrating there is no real ‘summer slowdown’ in Dubai for business builders!
• As part of our broader commitment to the British community in the UAE, we have contributed AED 100,000 to the British Community Assistance Fund (BCAF) in 2025.

Regional coordination and advocacy

• We continue to host regular GCC British Chambers assemblies, providing best practice sharing and a unified voice for British business across the region.
• We held a roundtable for His Majesty’s Ambassador to Jordan for members with interests showing the strength of the FCDO network available to members. 
• The British Embassy once again recognised the Chamber’s role in facilitating meaningful connections with a certificate of appreciation.

BCCD Board update

• At the June AGM we welcomed a new Board with two new Board Directors, Cynthia Corby (Deloitte) and Emil McKenzie (The Fry Group). For our current Board click here. 

I’ll be in London on Wednesday 6th August alongside members of our Board and Business Team, meeting UK-based members and exploring new opportunities to strengthen our cross-border support. For more information on this, please email [email protected].

The British Chamber of Commerce Dubai has never been in a stronger and more strategic position and we encourage British businesses and professionals in Dubai to take advantage of this momentum.

If you know a business that would benefit from being a part of our community, please do let us know by emailing [email protected].

Andrew Mortimer,

Chair, British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCD)