Doing Business In Dubai - Hotel Savoy Baur en Ville, Paradeplatz Zürich, Switzerland

The DMCC Free Trade Zone in Dubai – New impetus for the Swiss commodities trading industry? Together with our valuable guests and experts, we successfully investigated this fascinating topic of the evening.

This evening, I enjoyed introducing the Swiss Arab Network vision, its strategy, and the team behind the ambitious work. I then handed over the speech to the first guest speaker Mr Urs Stirnimann.

Mr Urs Stirnimann, partner of a Swiss law firm in Dubai and recognized expert in the Arab world, announced an outline of the history of economic relations between Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates and then introduced current developments in Dubai free trade zones. The next presentation introduced the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the Dubai Free Zone Authority's most significant Free Zone. Mr James Bernard, Director of Business Development at DMCC, explained the benefits and opportunities for investors but also pointed out potential pitfalls, and essential subtleties in everyday business dealings in Dubai. The visiting guests' presentations flown in from Dubai rounded out the presentation by Khaldoun Dia-Eddine, lecturer in the MBA Program ZHAW Zurich.

Finally, I enjoyed hosting the panel discussion, with Urs Stirnimann, James Bernard, Khaldoun Dia-Eddine, and entrepreneur and SAN Board Member, Omar Lahyani. From Swiss chocolate factories located in the desert of Ras Al Khaima (UAE) to Sharia-compliant banking, the discussion was held in a brought way and led to a vibrant networking session, where our guests enjoyed the culinary delicacies of Hotel Savoy Baur en Ville and took benefit of the opportune business contacts. 

Overall, it was an entertaining, informative, and commercially beneficial night, which led us to pursue other events in the coming years.