Abu Dhabi Chamber And BCIU Convene Family Business Roundtable To Strengthen Economic Ties In New York

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), hosted a significant roundtable for family businesses in New York. This event underscored Abu Dhabi's vibrant economic evolution, its robust investment opportunities, and its reputation as a premier hub for business and capital.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attended the roundtable alongside Shamis Al Dhaheri, Second Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Chamber, Marwa Al Mansoori, Board Member of the Chamber, and representatives from ten leading Emirati companies. The gathering was part of the activities during the Abu Dhabi economic delegation's visit to the United States from 29 September to 1 October.

The roundtable aimed to deepen connections with major global economies while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's status as a preferred destination for talent and international investment. It brought together prominent family businesses from both the United States and Abu Dhabi. Ahmed Al Zaabi stated: "Family businesses are a key pillar of our economy and contribute significantly to job creation, economic development, and diversification. Strengthening their international presence opens new avenues for expansion, drives innovation, and sustaining growth across generations."

Family businesses play a crucial role in the UAE's economy. They contribute about 60% of the GDP and employ 80% of the workforce. These enterprises also make up around 90% of private-sector companies in sectors like hospitality, retail, real estate, and construction. This highlights their importance in sustaining economic growth and diversification.

The roundtable provided an excellent platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange among influential figures from the U.S. business community. Participants included Peter Tichansky, President and CEO of BCIU; Her Excellency Ambassador Josette Sheeran, Founder and CEO of Firefly Global; members of the Arab Bankers Association of North America; New York-based business leaders; and investors.

Discussions focused on exploring investment opportunities across priority sectors such as finance, technology, healthcare, and clean energy. The event highlighted shared commitments between Abu Dhabi and U.S. partners to expand cooperation for sustainable long-term partnerships.

Expanding International Presence

The strong participation from public and private sector representatives demonstrated Emirati companies' contributions to advancing Abu Dhabi’s role in international economic cooperation. The discussions covered potential joint projects designed to unlock mutual benefits and enhance two-way investment flows.

Emirati participants included Waha Capital, Mubarak and Brothers Investments, Al Sayegh Group, Arabian Group Holding, Al Otaiba Enterprises, Walker Engineering, Emirates Angels, Response Plus Holding, Agthia, and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre.

The United States is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners. Platforms like this deepen ties across sectors aligned with priorities such as advanced technologies, new energy sources, financial services, agritech logistics manufacturing industries.

The Abu Dhabi Chamber delegation showcased attributes that position it as a rising business hub: an investor-friendly environment supported by advanced infrastructure legal frameworks enabling efficient regional global market expansion.

With inputs from WAM