Welcome to the third edition for 2007 of Capital Letter. Looking at the year to date and reflectingonouraspirations,itis pleasing to report on achievement. We have substantially increased our numbers of Members and Associates. It is particularly gratifying that many of these are drawn from younger members of the business community and from British companies who are among the biggest contributors to the new wave of development in Abu Dhabi. Group events have been exceptionally well attended, invariably informative and always enjoyable. Our sponsorship programme has been a great success, with Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorship eagerly taken up. This is mutually beneficialtotheGroupandsponsors alike. The Group is on a confidentfinancialfootingandsponsorsandtheGroup benefitfromourrelaunchedandupgraded website. Do please visit it and take advantage of the opportunities it offers. All of this requires time and commitment and I am grateful to Committee Members and others for all their help.

Looking forward, we have a number of interesting events planned between now and the early part of the New Year and you will be notifiedofthesebynewsletterand invitation. Remember that for our part we welcome feedback and look forward to receiving your own comments and suggestions on our events and how we can continue to achieve our objectives of promoting business relations between Britain and Abu Dhabi and the UAE – to which I would add the wider region of which Abu Dhabi is the hub – and providing a social and networking environment in which our members and their spouses can mix.

In the meantime, we are all very busy. Development in Abu Dhabi continues apace. In recent months, two documents in particular have highlighted current and future opportunities. The Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda 2007 – 2008 and Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 are both excellent publications and I commend them to you and to your businesses. They reflectclearthinkingand planning and can in turn help you with planning your own strategy to help to meet the needs they describe.

In spite of recent global financialconcerns, British industry and its exports are at their healthiest for many years and well-equipped to take advantage of the numerous opportunities which exist in this exciting and challenging market. My sense is that relations between Britain and the UAE are in good shape, but we can never afford to be complacent. Each of us has a personal responsibility to do their bit, both in Britain and with our counterparts in the UAE to ensure that the relationship grows and prospers. Enjoy the months to come. Capital Letter will be back in the New Year.

Peter Michelmore
Group Chairman
British Business Group - Abu Dhabi