techUK’s First-Ever Delegation to the Gulf: Dubai & Riyadh
Last week (13 - 16 October), techUK delivered its first ever delegation to the Gulf, bringing UK tech companies on a four-day visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The programme spanned Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 October in Dubai, followed by Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October in Riyadh. The focus was on exploring both business and innovation opportunities, with a strong overlay of networking and cultural immersion.
Delegation Leadership and Participants
The delegation was led by Sabina Ciofu, International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK. We were pleased to be joined by the following delegates:
Klaudia Skiba, Product Lead, Resolutiion
Katarzyna Hewelt, Head of AI & Data, Resolutiion
Ian Edwards, Business Development Manager, Viasat
Toby Barnard, Managing Director – UK Public Sector & International, QA Consulting
Mohammad Hassan, Business Development Manager, Cambridge Consultants
Sameer Ismail Shaikh, Head of Information Technology, Governance & Industry Relations, Galaxkey
Paul Bates, Director of Product & Development, Cleaview Intelligence
Alex Fleetwood, Chief Solutions Architect, Vaire Computing
Līga Rozentāle, Director, Head of Public Policy – EMEA, CrowdStrike
Prakash Kerai, Partner, Gateley Legal
This cross-section of expertise - spanning product, AI/data, satellite/communications, cyber, space, regulatory/legal and services - was very much aligned with the multi-sector ambition of our Gulf agenda.
Itinerary and Highlights
Here is a day-by-day synopsis of the delegation’s schedule and key engagements:
Dubai (Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October)
The start of the journey took place in Dubai, and centred on the region’s premier technology event: GITEX Global 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. GITEX is widely recognised as the world’s largest technology exhibition, bringing together thousands of exhibitors, startups, investors and government delegations.
Monday and Tuesday provided us a platform to engage with Gulf-region technology trends, meet potential partners and soak in the scale and ambition of Dubai’s tech agenda.
On Monday evening we hosted a dinner with the team from the DBT team in Dubai and the British Chambers of Commerce in the UAE, offering a relaxed networking setting to reflect on the day’s event and forge connections.
Riyadh (Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 October)
The second half of the trip took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, where the delegation undertook a more targeted set of engagements.
Wednesday morning: A meeting at the British Embassy Riyadh providing an overview of doing business in Saudi Arabia - regulatory environment, market access, public-sector priorities, and UK-Saudi tech collaboration.
Next, we visited The Garage, a major innovation district in Riyadh. This hub spans approximately 28,000 m², hosts over 300 start-ups and features multiple meeting rooms and event spaces.
We also met with Ibrahim Neyaz, the CEO of the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) under the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MCIT). NTDP aims to localise technology, foster R&D, support startups and grow the tech ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
Some of us also took a tour of the beautiful Al Bujairi Heritage Park in Diriyah, Riyadh. The park offers lush gardens, walking paths, heritage architecture, all in perfect summer evening weather.
Thursday: The delegation visited King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) for a tour and a substantial meeting on everything from quantum technologies, cyber-defence, to space systems.
The programme culminated in the largest meeting of the trip with the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (MISA). We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Mohammed Shabana, GM for ICT, and his team, as well as colleagues from the Saudi Data & AI Authority – SDAIA among others for their open presentation on the investment climate, tech policy environment and opportunity-space for UK firms.
Key Takeaways
The Gulf region is pushing ahead with a tech-driven diversification agenda - from AI and cyber to space and quantum - and is backing this with national programmes (e.g., NTDP) and ecosystem infrastructure (e.g., The Garage).
Access to local innovation platforms and enablers matters. For UK firms, the presence of structured incubators, national programmes and ministerial-level contacts makes meaningful engagement far more viable.
From the cultural & contextual intelligence side:
Being physically present matters - in the Gulf context in particular, market engagement is built on presence, personal relationships, and trust-building.
Informal connectivity counts: a message on WhatsApp often reaches someone faster than formal channels in the region - it is very much part of how business and relationships move forward.
Next Steps
techUK and our delegates will follow up on key connections made during the trip and explore next-steps: partnership scoping, pilot projects, local-entity alignment, and regulatory/market-entry support.
We are also considering participation in LEAP Riyadh (2026) - this will be a major event in the region and represents a natural next step for UK tech firms targeting the Gulf market. Keep an eye out for updates from techUK on this front.
Thanks and acknowledgement
A big thank you to all delegates for your energy, insight and engagement. Special thanks to our hosts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia - our dinner partners in Dubai, and in Riyadh the British Embassy, The Garage, NTDP/MCIT, KACST and the Ministry of Investment team for their generous time and insightful dialogues.
If you are a techUK member interested in exploring Gulf opportunities, or if you’d like to support follow-up initiatives from this delegation, please get in touch with the policy and international team at techUK.
For more information, please contact:
Sabina Ciofu
International Policy and Strategy Lead, techUK
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
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Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
