I should open by welcoming back those of you who have had a break this year and by commiserating with those of you who have been unable to findthetime,andIamconfidentthereare many! I have been here for most of the summer and I have noticed, even in my short time in Abu Dhabi, that each summer seems to be getting busier. This is a reflectionofthechangingtimesand the changing pace of development in Abu Dhabi. We have also seen a considerable number of business visitors from the UK in the Embassy.

By the time this issue is published we will have had yet another very senior visit as well as a couple of other VIPs in Abu Dhabi. It maintains the momentum of the past year and signifies the position that Abu Dhabi has reached on the radar of UK politicians and businessmen. I have heard the view from visitors that Abu Dhabi is attracting increasing attention in the UK as a place to invest and to do business. HRH The Duke of York visited in late October, primarily to celebrate the recent contract won by International Power in Fujairah. He was particularly pleased with this as it was the culmination of many months of hard work by IP, fully supported by the UK Government. It was a good example of how we can add value to such bids by UK companies. The Duke also took the opportunity to promote the Tawteen project in Abu Dhabi, to which a number of UK companies have lent support. The visit also encompassed visits to the Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority, the Minister of Planning and Economy, Mubadala and the Masdar project.

This past few months have seen the emergence of a number of UK companies in Abu Dhabi. United Utilities intend on launching here in the autumn; Foster and Partners have formed a major partnership with Al Masdar; Benoy have secured considerable business with Aldar; other architectural companies such as Austin Smith Lord have also secured business here. It is encouraging to see this steady stream of interest and we stand ready to help where we can. On 1st November, the Ambassador and I attended the opening ceremony for Brush Tranformers, a UK company who have set up in Musaffah Industrial City. This was another notable success and a good example of what can be achieved in Abu Dhabi given the right level of commitment and patience.

The World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on 21 - 23 January is something I would like to highlight in this issue. The Summit promises to be a significant event in the calendar and is being held under the auspices of the Government of Abu Dhabi as part of a major world initiative to bring together leaders of companies and innovators of technologies that are developing the solutions for the world’s demand for alternative and renewal energies. Al Masdar, of course, are playing a major role in the Summit. As well as several VIP speakers there will be an exhibition of the latest technologies. We are confident of attracting a number of British VIPs, both from Government and the private sector. I recommend a quick look at www.WFES08.com for more information.

There has been a considerable change within the Embassy in the last couple of months, particularly within my section. Steven Anderson has left us for pastures new (in his case, Milan) and he has been replaced by Dorothy Harris, who joined us from Doha. Manal Harb has also joined us from Damascus. We also welcome a new Deputy Head of Mission, Ian Wood, who is writing elsewhere in this issue. I also hope that, by the time this issue is released, to have employed an extremely able Emirati national into the UKTI section of the Embassy. We look forward to welcoming him and reaping the mutual benefits that such an appointment should offer.

Finally, I am asked by my colleagues in the Consular section to remind UK citizens of the need to register with the Embassy and to take a look at the new travel advice for the UAE at www.fco.gov.uk/traveadvice. I assure you there is nothing sinister in these announcements!

I look forward to catching up with many of you over the next few months.

A career diplomat, Gordon Brown is the Head of the UK Trade and Investment Section of the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. He has served in Abu Dhabi, Oman and Cairo, amongst many other posts.