MIDDLE EAST ASSOCIATION UK ROADSHOW – NEWCASTLE

Gateway to the Middle East: Unlocking Business Opportunities

Date: Monday 23 November 2026
Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm
Location: Womble Bond Dickinson, The Spark, Draymans Way, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5DE

The MEA UK Roadshow opens in Newcastle, hosted at Womble Bond Dickinson. This regional business briefing brings together senior business leaders, investors, Government representatives and regional experts for a focused morning on trade, investment and market entry across the Gulf and wider Middle East & North Africa.

Running throughout is a subtheme of business continuity, resilience and adaptability, helping companies build durable partnerships and adjust their strategies with confidence as the region evolves.

Programme

10:00 – 10:30 Registration, Coffee & Networking
10:30 – 11:00 Welcome Remarks & Opening Keynote
11:00 – 12:00 Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A: Gateway to the Middle East: Unlocking Business Opportunities across the Middle East, moderated by Nicholas Hopton
12:00 – 1:00 Networking Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Pre-Bookable 1-to-1 Meetings with speakers and partners

Speakers

Nicholas Hopton – Director General & Chair, The Middle East Association; former British Ambassador (Moderator)
Adam Hosier – Founder Director, AEI Saudi
Matthew Boyd – Business Development Manager, The Sovereign Group
Peter Snaith – Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
Chris Weeks – Smart Currency Business
Stuart Carroll – Senior Advisor, Global Diplomacy Institute
Judy Abdullah – Founder, The Favour Gulf
Simon Crosby – Senior Area Lead, North East & Tees Valley, Department for Business & Trade
UK Export Finance – a representative from the UK Government's export credit agency

Full speaker biographies: uk-roadshow.the-mea.com/newcastle.html

What you'll gain

• Learn about real commercial opportunities across the Gulf and wider MENA region
• Gain practical market-entry insights from experienced operators and advisers
• Understand the legal, financial, cultural and strategic aspects of doing business in the region
• Build connections with businesses, investors, advisers and Government stakeholders
• Take part in pre-bookable one-to-one meetings with speakers and partners

Gold Sponsor: VG Group
Supporting partners: Department for Business & Trade, UK Export Finance, Womble Bond Dickinson, AEI Saudi, Sovereign Group, Smart Currency Business, Global Diplomacy Institute, The Favour Gulf
Supported by: North East England Chamber of Commerce, British Chambers of Commerce

The MEA UK Roadshow also visits Manchester (24 Nov), Cambridge (26 Nov) and London (27 Nov). See uk-roadshow.the-mea.com