The directors of the Dubai FDI and Sovereign (UK) Limited invite you to attend an ‘in-person’ morning seminar on Wednesday, 17 November 2021, that will provide essential advice and practical assistance to directors, shareholders and advisors of UK and overseas companies that are looking to invest or do business in the UAE, with specific reference to:
- Identifying investment opportunities and evaluating market entry
- Determining the best legal structures for your business
- Role of UAE Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Obtaining approvals necessary for issuing licences
- Selecting the best Free Zone for your business
- Addressing management and ownership challenges
- Recent changes to foreign ownership laws in the UAE
Date
Wednesday, 17th November
Venue
The Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5ED
Time
Registration with continental breakfast from 08:45 – 09:30 AM
Speakers will commence promptly at 09:30 AM
Panel discussion from 11:00 to 11:30 AM
Speakers
Nicholas Cully
Sales Director, Sovereign Group
After graduating in European Law from the University of Exeter and l’Université de Rennes 1 in 2005, Nicholas worked in investment management in London, qualifying as a stockbroker before moving to Gibraltar to join a boutique asset management firm.
He joined the Sovereign Group in 2010, moving to Dubai to build and lead what is now the Group’s largest sales team. From 2015 to 2020, he was the Managing Director of Sovereign Middle East where he was instrumental in expanding the Group’s product offering in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to include market entry services.
Nicholas has travelled extensively to promote the United Arab Emirates around the world as a place to do business and has spoken at a number of international conferences and seminars on the subject.
In October 2018, Nicholas was appointed to the Group Board as Group Sales Director and currently oversees the Group’s sales and growth strategy. He sits on multiple boards and travels extensively. In March 2021, he relocated to Zug, Switzerland.
Nicholas is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and a Member of the Institute of Directors (IoD). In 2021, he completed “the IoD Certificate in Company Direction”.
Simon Denton
Managing Director, Sovereign (UK) Limited
Simon has over 30 years’ experience and expertise in the international private client tax planning, trustee, corporate services, fiduciary, pension trustee and the market entry industry.
His career started with The Consult Group in the Principality of Andorra before joining the Gibraltar offices, the sister HQ of The Sovereign Group in 1990. As MD of Sovereign Trust in Gibraltar, he served 2 terms as Chairman of the Association of Trust & Company Managers and was a member of the Gibraltar Government Financial Sector Legislation Committee.
Moving to London in 1996 to establish the Group’s UK subsidiaries in London he continues to be the Managing Director of these two companies.
Simon has been a director of The Sovereign Group, was the Chairperson of the UK Chapter of The Offshore Institute, is still the Vice President of The Royal Society of Fellows, continues to be a member of The Institute of Management, is the founder and Chairman of International Professionals Association Ltd, is a regular lecturer and speaker at tax planning and financial services conventions throughout the world.
Aside from his career exploits, Simon was once a professional squash player, is currently an international cyclist and a qualified Rugby Union referee.
Ibrahim Ahli
Director Investment Promotion Division, Dubai Investment Development Agency, Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion agency in the Dubai Economy formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED, Government of Dubai
As a Director of Investment Promotion Division at Dubai FDI, Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion agency in the Dubai Economy, formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, Ibrahim Ahli assists investors with their service requirements and supports companies looking to set up in Dubai or any of its free zones to serve local, regional and international markets.
Ibrahim has a solid background in destination marketing and customer relations, having worked in the travel & tourism industry for more than 12 years during which he has led various promotion campaigns for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. He started his career with the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai where he was Manager Overseas Promotions for 10 years. He has also led successful marketing and brand management initiatives over a period of six years as Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications in the Dubai Airport Free Zone and as Director of Marketing for the Dubai Flower Centre, a perishable goods transshipment hub.
Ibrahim steers the investor outreach and promotion efforts of Dubai FDI with his vast experience in attracting international business and supporting them to establish their operations in the United Arab Emirates in general and in Dubai specifically. His main focus in on identifying the best source markets for foreign direct investment (FDI) into Dubai and cementing the emirate’s position as the best investment destination in the Middle East. Ibrahim can be contacted directly at ibrahim.ahli@fdidubai.gov.ae
For further information on Dubai FDI please visit http://www.dubaifdi.gov.ae/en
Walid Abdulla Marhoon
Senior Manager Investment Promotion Division, Dubai Investment Development Agency, Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion agency in the Dubai Economy formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED, Government of Dubai
As a Senior Manager of Investment Promotion Division at Dubai FDI, Dubai FDI, the foreign investment promotion agency in the Dubai Economy formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, Walid Marhoon assists investors with their service requirements and supports companies looking to set up in Dubai or any of its free zones to serve local, regional and international markets.
Walid has a solid background in destination marketing and customer relations, having worked in the travel & tourism industry for more than 8 years in attracting international conferences and meetings to Dubai. He started his career with the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai where he was Manager Convention Bureau for 8 years. He has also led successful bidding presentationes to host international conferences to Dubai.
Walid steers the investor outreach and promotion efforts of Dubai FDI with his vast experience in attracting international business and supporting them to establish their operations in the United Arab Emirates in general and in Dubai specifically. His main focus in on identifying the best source markets for foreign direct investment (FDI) into Dubai and cementing the emirate’s position as the best investment destination in the Middle East. Walid can be contacted directly at walid.marhoon@fdidubai.gov.ae
For further information on Dubai FDI please visit http://www.dubaifdi.gov.ae/en
Dubai FDI, part of Dubai Economy formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED), provides essential information and invaluable support to foreign businesses looking to invest in Dubai’s thriving economy and take advantage of its global strategic importance.
With over three decades of experience in the corporate services field and two decades in the Middle East, Sovereign’s services include forming or reorganising corporate structures and repatriating earnings. We also provide the necessary expertise in administering and managing companies, including company law, board procedures, director responsibilities and shareholder relations, and financial and corporate compliance requirements.
