Topics Included:
Navigating the Regulatory Environment, Overview of the Saudi Market, Opportunities in Saudi Arabia, Common Pitfalls with Regulations, Company Set-up, Education, Saudization.
The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC), in partnership with AEI Saudi, presents the latest in our UK-wide “Doing Business in Saudi Arabia” workshop series. This Edinburgh edition offers Scottish businesses a practical introduction to the Saudi market, covering key sectors, market entry strategies, and the support available to companies looking to expand into the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Middle East, with a GDP exceeding $1.1 trillion and ambitious transformation plans under Vision 2030. UK-Saudi bilateral trade reached £17.2 billion in the year to Q2 2025, with UK exports totalling £14.2 billion. The UK and Saudi Arabia have committed to increasing bilateral trade to £30 billion by 2030. Services account for nearly two-thirds of UK exports, with ongoing UK-GCC free trade negotiations expected to reduce tariffs on goods including Scottish food and drink products.
The workshop addresses key questions about entering the Saudi market while providing candid insights from companies that have successfully established operations in the Kingdom. Attendees will hear directly from experienced practitioners, government representatives, and sector specialists.
10:30 – 11:00 | Registration
11:00 – 11:05 | Welcome from SBJBC, AEI Saudi, and CMS
11:05 – 11:15 | Presentation by SBJBC: Saudi Market – Trends & Opportunities
Using SBJBC research and insights, this presentation will provide an overview of Saudi Arabia’s business market, highlighting key sectors such as education, sport, infrastructure, IT, and finance. The presentation will discuss how these sectors align with the Kingdom’s national development strategy and the broader Vision 2030 goals. In addition, the presentation will review the current trends such as sustainability and digitalisation while providing attendees with insights into under-tapped markets and opportunities.
Presenter:
11:15 – 12:05 | Panel 1: Practicalities of Doing Business in Saudi Arabia
These speakers will explore how a UK entity can establish a physical presence in the Kingdom and why this is a critical step for success. The panel will also look at financial planning, payment customs, workforce development, Saudisation policies, and navigating the regulatory landscape. Common challenges and methods to overcome them will also be discussed, alongside the need for a long-term commitment in the Saudi market.
Panellists:
Cordelia Begbie, CEO, SBJBC
Philip Norman, Partner, CMS
12:05 – 12:55 | Panel 2: Success Stories, Government and Chamber Support
These speakers will highlight success stories for UK entities operating in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the key steps for success. Moreover, speakers will discuss incentive programmes and Special Economic Zones in the Kingdom, along with what support is available through government and chamber support.
Panellists:
13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch and Close
More speakers being confirmed.
Date
Time
Location:
SBJBC Members: Free (contact events@sbjbc.org for discount code)
SBJBC Non-Members: £60 + VAT
DBT is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. Emma has worked in DBT since 2018, covering multiple sectors and regions of the world and now focuses on the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Turkiye and Central Asia, sourcing and creating opportunities for Midlands-based businesses who want to expand their global success.
Vic Annells is a seasoned diplomat, business leader, and international trade expert with extensive experience fostering UK-Saudi relations. He currently serves as a Senior Consultant with AEI Saudi, where he assists businesses in working with AEI establishing and expanding their operations within the Kingdom.Previously, Vic held the position of Chief Executive at the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce. His diplomatic career includes serving as HM Consul General in Milan and as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Riyadh, roles that underscore his deep understanding of international commerce and diplomacy. Vic was the UKTI International Trade Director for the East of England region.Vic's expertise is particularly relevant to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, as he held the role Director of Trade and Investment for Saudi Arabia based at the Embassy in Riyadh when the Crown Prince first launched his plan. His focus has been on helping businesses understand the complexity of entering into the Kingdom whilst working in his role at the UK Embassy and it continued with his support for AEI Saudi.
Adam is an engineer by background but has spent the last 2 decades focused on trade in the Middle East. He co-founded AEI Saudi in 2012, a business dedicated to bringing the UK and KSA closer together through trade. Since then he has supported over 2,500 companies predominantly from the UK but also the EU and US with their journies to enter, succeed and thrive in the Middle East. Adam has a broad professional background, however his core expertise is Saudi business winning, gained from his time as Regional Director for a leading multinational as well as leading the Business Development teams at multiple Saudi companies.
Cordelia Begbie was appointed UK Executive Director of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) and CEO of SBJBC UK in September 2024. In this role, she is responsible for establishing a long-term vision and strategy for SBJBC UK & the Saudi UK Tech Hub, and leads the Secretariat in London.With over 10 years experience working with Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, Cordelia has significant expertise in government relations, corporate partnerships, and regional development. In this time she has also built an extensive network of key contacts in the region.Prior to joining SBJBC, Cordelia served as Head of Middle East at Asia House, where she led research and programs focused on political and economic developments in the region, particularly in the Gulf States. Prior to this she worked across the Levant, North Africa, and Iran, helping companies expand and develop into new markets. Cordelia holds a degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic from Exeter University.
Andrew is Deputy Managing Partner at AlbionVC, a UK-focused venture capital investor managing approximately £1bn.A former neurosurgeon, Andrew focuses on medical technologies and technology-enabled services to the healthcare and life-science sectors.He also oversees management of the UCL Technology Fund, a long-standing partnership between AlbionVC and UCL Business. He has invested in sectors ranging from digital health, diagnostics and imaging, machine learning applications and therapeutics, including cell and gene therapies.Prior to joining AlbionVC he specialised in healthcare strategy at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He holds degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
The Federation of Saudi Chambers is the umbrella and only representative of the Saudi business community. They represent those doing business in Saudi Arabia both domestically and through partner organisations such as the Saudi British Joint Business Council.
The BCC unites 53 accredited UK Chambers and operates in over 75 international markets.
With roots in the UK and with international influence, their powerful Network amplifies its members’ voices, giving companies the opportunity to drive change both in their communities and on the global stage.
Built on over 160 years of history, the Chamber of Commerce Network is passionately committed to giving companies a place to be inspired, the support to grow, and a space where every business belongs.
DBT is the department for economic growth. They support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
DBT is a ministerial department, supported by 19 agencies and public bodies.
🇬🇧 78 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ES
🇸🇦 c/o Federation of Saudi Chambers King Fahad Branch Rd, Al Mutamarat, Riyadh 12711
+44 (0) 203 7098060
info@sbjbc.org
