Lady Mayor of the City of London champions expanded UK–UAE investment partnership
Dame Susan Langley emphasises the shared commitment of both nations to translate diplomatic frameworks and trade agreements into tangible economic collaboration and growth.
Dame Susan Langley, the Lady Mayor of the City of London, has underscored the mutual determination of the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates to deepen investment horizons and convert existing understandings into substantive projects and economic gains.
Speaking at Investopia Bridge 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Dame Susan noted that growth represents a common aspiration for both nations. She explained that her visit, undertaken as part of a business delegation, centres on identifying reciprocal investment opportunities that will benefit both economies.
“I’m so pleased to be here at Investopia Bridge 2026. We brought a business delegation with us, and we’re here to talk about the opportunities in the UK and in the UAE as well, to look at how we can invest in each other’s economies because we both want the same thing, growth,” she told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Dame Susan participated in a panel discussion titled “Bridges of Trust: Diplomacy, Capital and Culture in the UAE–UK Partnership”, which explored the deepening relationship between the two nations and the mechanisms through which diplomacy, capital flows and cultural exchange strengthen bilateral ties whilst building confidence for sustained collaboration.
The Lady Mayor highlighted the importance of translating formal agreements into actionable outcomes. The UK and UAE have established a Memorandum of Understanding and are advancing a free trade agreement, yet the emphasis remains on converting these frameworks into tangible investments and partnerships.
“So the topics we’ve focused on is essentially how to make investment happen. We have the MoU, we have the free trade agreement coming up. But how do we turn that into action,” she remarked, referencing Invest Connect, a new platform designed to match infrastructure opportunities with prospective investors. She further noted the value of collaboration between asset managers on both sides in channelling capital towards productive endeavours.
Dame Susan’s tenure as Lady Mayor—a role requiring extensive international travel across twelve months—draws to a close, with her UAE visit representing her final official journey. She reflected warmly on concluding her appointment in the Emirates, acknowledging the historic partnership and trusted relationship between the two countries.
Source: WAM