Lord Mayor seeks closer ties with UAE

The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nick Anstee, arrived on a two-day visit to the UAE yesterday with a major business delegation, as part of a longer visit to the Gulf.

The purpose of the visit is to underline the UK's commitment to the UAE and the Gulf, and highlight investment opportunities between both regions.

Anstee began his UAE visit with a full day at the Dubai International Financial Centre, where his agenda included, meeting with Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of the DIFC, attending a working lunch hosted by the Dubai Financial Services Authority on the issue of regulation, speaking during an Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales graduation ceremony, and participating in a colloquium held in his honour on the role of courts and arbitration in the global economic recovery.

He also attended a British Business Group reception in his honour held in conjunction with the CASS Business School for the school's alumni. CASS has a Dubai campus at the DIFC Centre of Excellence and Anstee is also Chancellor of London City University, to which the business school is affiliated.

"London remains a leading financial centre and although events over the past year have shaken financial markets London is making a good recovery with equities, foreign exchange, insurance, marine and commodities trading moving ahead," Anstee said.

"We, of course, continue to welcome investment from UAE companies and on this visit I will be encouraging UAE-based financial institutions to look to London as a partner to raise capital and do business."

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