Gatestone Group to advise UK firms on UAE and Saudi expansion at The Business Show London 2026

Gatestone Group will exhibit at The Business Show London 2026 at ExCeL London on 11-12 November, offering UK founders guidance on setting up in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The move comes as UK trade with the Gulf remains substantial and more British companies look to the region for growth.

Why it matters: - Gatestone Group will use The Business Show London 2026 to target UK businesses weighing expansion into the UAE and Saudi Arabia. - The show gives founders direct access to guidance on company formation, visas, tax, compliance and banking in two Gulf markets drawing sustained UK interest. - UK trade with the UAE and Saudi Arabia remains a material part of the Gulf business case, even as Saudi trade has fallen year on year.

What happened: - Gatestone Group will exhibit at The Business Show London 2026 at ExCeL London on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 November 2026. - The company will be at stand B1800. - Visitors will be able to speak with Gatestone Group’s UK and UAE team about setting up a business in the UAE from the UK or Saudi Arabia from the UK. - Entry to the show is free with registration.

The details: - Gatestone Group is a business setup and market entry consultancy with offices in London, Dubai and Riyadh. - The team will discuss whether a business should use a free zone or a mainland licence in the UAE. - The team will also cover residency visas, bank accounts, tax registration and ongoing compliance. - UK and UAE trade was worth £25.2 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2026, up 3.9% from the previous year, according to the Department for Business and Trade. - UK and Saudi Arabia trade was worth £13.4 billion over the same period, down 15.5%. - The Dubai Media Office said 2,733 UK companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 2025, putting the UK fourth among nationalities of new members. - The Ministry of Economy and Tourism said around 250,000 new companies set up across the UAE in 2025. - UAE free zones allow full foreign ownership, and most mainland activities have also allowed full foreign ownership since 2021, according to the UAE Government portal. - UAE corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that, under Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022. - The UK and the UAE have had a double taxation convention in force since 25 December 2016. - More than 750 international companies have joined Saudi Arabia’s Regional Headquarters Programme, above the 2030 target of 500, according to the Ministry of Investment in August 2026. - Saudi Arabia’s accession to the Apostille Convention, in force since December 2022, means a UK FCDO apostille is enough for UK public documents used for Saudi company setup while living in the UK. - Documents not in Arabic still need translation by a court-licensed Arabic translator. - Gatestone Group says the team at ExCeL will cover UAE company formation, Saudi Arabia market entry, residency and visas, tax and compliance, document preparation in the UK, and legal services. - The UAE company formation discussion will compare free zones such as DAFZ and RAKEZ with a Dubai mainland licence, based on activity, visas and office needs. - The Saudi Arabia market entry discussion will cover MISA licensing, commercial registration, the General Manager’s Iqama and Saudi Premium Residency routes. - The residency and visas discussion will include investor, employee and dependant visas in the UAE and residence options in Saudi Arabia. - The tax and compliance discussion will include UAE corporate tax and VAT registration, Saudi ZATCA registration, beneficial ownership registers, accounting and annual renewals. - The document preparation discussion will include FCDO apostille and attestation steps for UK company and personal documents. - The legal services discussion will include contracts, trademark registration, wills and powers of attorney.

Between the lines: - The event pitch reflects a practical, high-touch sales approach rather than a broad brand showcase. - Gatestone Group is framing market entry around the specific friction points UK owners face: licence choice, visa counts, annual costs and setup timelines. - The Gulf remains attractive because the regulatory path is clearer than many founders expect, but tax, residency and document handling still require careful planning.

What's next: - Visitors can book a meeting at stand B1800 in advance through Gatestone Group's UK site or via the contact form on the company’s exhibitor page on greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk. - The Business Show London 2026 runs on Wednesday 11 November from 10am to 5pm and Thursday 12 November from 10am to 4pm. - The nearest station is Custom House, served by the Elizabeth line and DLR. - Business Show Media Ltd is offering free tickets through registration on greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk.

The bottom line: - Gatestone Group is positioning The Business Show London as a lead generator for UK firms that want a fast, structured route into the UAE or Saudi Arabia.