MIDDLE EAST ASSOCIATION UK ROADSHOW – MANCHESTER

Gateway to the Middle East: Unlocking Business Opportunities

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2026
Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm
Location: Pendulum Hotel, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3BB

The MEA UK Roadshow comes to Manchester at the Pendulum Hotel. This regional business briefing connects North West companies with senior advisers, investors, Government representatives and regional experts, with a focus on real commercial opportunities across the 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
Alison Raw – Senior Advisor, Global Diplomacy Institute
Judy Abdullah – Founder, The Favour Gulf
Department for Business & Trade – a DBT representative
UK Export Finance – a representative from the UK Government's export credit agency

Full speaker biographies: uk-roadshow.the-mea.com/manchester.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: British Chambers of Commerce

The MEA UK Roadshow also visits Newcastle (23 Nov), Cambridge (26 Nov) and London (27 Nov). See uk-roadshow.the-mea.com