Gulf investments in the United Kingdom reached $130 billion in 2016, with most concentrated in the real estate sector.

This was confirmed by Abdul Rahim Naqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers, who explained that there is a significant presence of Gulf investments in the UK, which has contributed to strengthening mutual trade between the two sides, noting that the British government and its business community are keen on investment opportunities in the Gulf, particularly mega-projects and infrastructure projects, with investment in these areas estimated at approximately $200 billion over the next ten years.

Naqi emphasized the role of the Gulf private sector in strengthening economic cooperation between the GCC countries and the European Union in general, and the UK in particular. This came following the announcement by the Federation of Gulf Chambers and the GCC Secretariat that they will organize a Gulf-British conference on public-private partnerships on April 19 in London. Naqi noted that the conference is being held in accordance with the agreements reached at the first summit between the GCC and the United Kingdom in December 2016, The conference aims to highlight the national transformation and economic diversification plans recently adopted by the GCC member states and to review investment opportunities within these plans. It also aims to increase the volume of investment and trade between the two sides.