meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

UK-GCC trade talks make slow progress

11 December 2023

 

There may be some frustration creeping in over the pace of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and the GCC, with Gulf officials in particular calling for the process to be expedited.

The two sides launched the process in June 2022 and since then there have been five rounds of talks, the most recent of which wrapped up in Riyadh on 16 November.

The UK’s Department for Business & Trade said a few days later that technical discussions had been held on 21 policy areas and “good progress was made” with the draft text, with advances made in “the majority of chapters”.

The next round of talks is due to take place in the first quarter of 2024.

It is not clear how far the two sides are from reaching a deal, but Gulf officials have said they would like to see faster progress. At a meeting in Manama on 18 November, GCC secretary-general Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi told the UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (pictured) of the “urgency of expediting the pace of negotiations”.

The UK, however, appears to be in less of a rush. Speaking at the Arab-British Economic Summit in London on 20 November, the country’s chief negotiator on the FTA, Tom Wintle, said: “It is fundamentally about the deal, not the date. We are absolutely committed to working at pace. We have huge political will and commitment on both sides to get this done. I can vouchsafe that both sides are working flat out. But it is about getting the right agreement.”

He declined to be drawn on how much longer the process might take but added: “We are starting to see what I believe will be a really remarkable free trade agreement emerging.”

The slow pace of the UK-GCC negotiations contrasts with the speed at which the UAE has been signing its own versions of bilateral FTAs.

Over the past few years, the UAE has launched negotiations on comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPAs) with several countries. The first four deals – with India, Israel, Indonesia and Turkiye – took an average of less than seven months from launch to conclusion.

At heart, what an FTA is looking to do is to make business easier, cheaper, more secure
Tom Wintle, the UK’s chief negotiator for the UK-GCC FTA

Gainful opportunity

Trade between the UK and the six GCC economies was worth £61m ($77bn) in 2022, according to the UK authorities, who suggest that the removal of tariffs and other barriers could increase trade flows by “at least 16 per cent”.

When the negotiations first began, the UK government pointed to the food and drink sector along with manufacturing and renewable energy as areas that stood to benefit from any deal.

In his most recent comments, Wintle emphasised potential gains in the digital realm, “and in particular the opportunity and potential to grow the transformational technologies like e-commerce, like AI [artificial intelligence]”. He went on to talk about “an FTA that really harnesses both what is happening today but importantly the forces that will shape the world of work and commerce in the future”.

In terms of specific demands, Wintle said the UK is looking to “lock in legal certainty on electronic transactions so businesses can make greater use of things like e-contracts, e-signatures, paperless trading”. 

“At heart, what an FTA is looking to do is to make business easier, cheaper, more secure,” he added.

While the talks continue, companies continue to trade. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, an executive at a technology company that is already present in the UAE and is considering expanding into Saudi Arabia was cautious about the difference an FTA might make. “It is the market opportunity that is the driver,” he said.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, the UK already has FTAs in place with Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, and has been on a push to sign more since leaving the EU. The talks with the GCC are just one of many sets of live negotiations, with others currently under way between the UK and South Korea, Canada and India, among others.

Trade issues also regularly come up in the strategic dialogues that the UK holds with countries from around the Middle East and North Africa region. In recent weeks, it has held them with Algeria, Bahrain and Tunisia.

Lord Ahmad told the Arab-British Economic Summit that in the recent meeting with Algeria, “we focussed on opportunities to increase our burgeoning trade relationship”, which he said had grown by 24 per cent in the past year to a value of £3bn.

Trade ties with Algeria go back a long way, with the two countries having signed a bilateral Treaty of Peace & Trade in 1682.

Lord Ahmad said the dialogues with Bahrain and Tunisia “focussed on areas such as climate, education, transport and much more as well”, and said in relation to the GCC trade talks that “we are progressing that well”.

“A trade deal with the GCC will boost our collaboration across a huge range of sectors, creating many business opportunities and importantly jobs on both sides, and attracting new investment,” he added.

“For the economies of the Arab world to become less dependent on carbon and fossil fuels, we must open doors for entrepreneurs to take advantage of the technologies – opportunities we can only grasp by removing barriers and facilitating growth, and working with our Gulf partners.”

As the long history of UK-Algeria trade shows, FTA deals are not a new concept even if, as with the ongoing GCC talks, it can take time to frame an agreement that takes into account the fast-moving nature of commerce.

Image: UK Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon at the 2023 Arab-British Economic Summit

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11350781/main0606.gif
Dominic Dudley

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Abu Dhabi seeks firms for Mid Island Parkway PPP

    15 May 2026

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Modon Infrastructure, formerly known as Gridora, has invited firms to submit their registrations for the next phase of Abu Dhabi’s Mid Island Parkway Project (MIPP), which will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

    The request for qualifications (RFQ) is expected to be issued to interested parties soon.

    Modon Infrastructure will act as the lead developer with the majority of the equity in the project company. It will award the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, the operations and maintenance providers, and the advisers.

    The second phase of the MIPP involves the construction of about 11 kilometres (km) of highways, including a mix of three-, four- and five-lane highways. The highways will connect the Um-Yifeenah, Al-Jubail, Al-Sammaliyyah and Sas Al-Nakhl islands to Khalifa City and the E10 road.

    The scope also covers the construction of three interchanges: the E20, E10 and Dumbbell interchanges on Al-Sammaliyyah Island.

    The project includes several major structures, such as the E20 interchange featuring cast-in-place box girder and void slab bridges, and the E10 interchange with cast-in-place box girder bridges. It also includes I-girder bridges between Raha Beach West and Sas Al-Nakhl Island, as well as a causeway at Sas Al-Nakhl Island.

    Further key elements include a cast-in-place balanced cantilever bridge between Sas Al-Nakhl Island and Al-Sammaliyyah Island, a tunnel between Al-Sammaliyyah Island and Bilrimaid Island, and a cut-and-cover (open) tunnel on Bilrimaid Island. The project is completed with another tunnel connecting Bilrimaid Island to Um-Yifeenah Island.

    Abu Dhabi awarded three packages for phase one of the MIPP in 2024. The contract for package 1A was awarded to a joint venture of Turkish contractor Dogus Construction and UAE firm Gulf Contractors. Package 1B was awarded to a joint venture of Yas Projects (Alpha Dhabi Holding) and China Railway International Group. Beijing-headquartered China Harbour Engineering Company and the UAE’s Agility Engineering & Contracting Company won the contract for package 1C.

    Phase one starts at the existing Saadiyat interchange, connecting the E12 to the MIPP, and ends at the recently constructed Um-Yifeenah highway. 

    It comprises a dual main road with a total length of 8km, including four traffic lanes in each direction, two interchanges, a tunnel and associated infrastructure works.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16858325/main.jpg
    Colin Foreman
  • Oman seeks adviser for gas-fired IPPs

    15 May 2026

    Oman’s Nama Power & Water Procurement Company (PWP) has issued a request for proposals for technical consultancy services for the development of new gas-fired independent power projects (IPPs) in the sultanate.

    The state offtaker said the projects will have a total capacity of up to 2,800MW.

    The bid submission deadline is 17 June.

    While Oman is accelerating investment in renewable energy and battery storage, gas-fired thermal generation is expected to remain a core part of the country’s power mix over the coming decade.

    The Misfah and Duqm combined-cycle gas turbine power plants are advancing towards construction following the appointment of China-headquartered Shandong Electric Power Construction No. 3 Company (Sepco 3) and South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility as contractors.

    According to Nama PWP’s 2025 annual report, the Duqm IPP will have a total capacity of 877MW, including 555MW of early power capacity, which is scheduled to commence in Q2 2028.

    The Misfah IPP will have a total capacity of 1,700MW, including 1,203MW of early power capacity, which is scheduled to commence in the same quarter.

    Nama PWP has also recently awarded new power-purchase agreements (PPAs) to three IPPs to extend the operating life of existing gas-fired power plants beyond the expiry of their current contracts.

    The new agreements for the 750MW Sohar 2 IPP and 750MW Barka 3 IPP will take effect on 1 April 2028 and run until 31 March 2043. The agreement for the 200MW Sur IPP will commence on 1 April 2029 and run until 31 March 2044.

    The awards form part of Nama PWP’s 2028-29 procurement programme. The programme aims to secure firm generation capacity from existing assets whose current PPAs are due to expire during that period.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16857037/main4750.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Alghanim submits lowest offer for Kuwait oil refinery project

    15 May 2026

    Kuwait’s Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting has submitted the lowest bid for a contract to upgrade the country’s Mina Al-Ahmadi (MAA) refinery.

    The client is state-owned downstream operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). The project scope covers upgrades to water transmission and storage infrastructure at the refinery.

    The contract will be delivered under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model. The tender was issued in October 2025 with an initial bid deadline of 4 January 2026, which was later extended several times. The most recent rescheduling moved the deadline from 19 April to 10 May.

    Alghanim submitted a bid of KD37.0m ($120m), significantly lower than the other two bidders, both Kuwait-based: Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (Heisco) at KD60.6m ($197m) and Gulf Spic General Trading & Contracting at KD63.9m ($207m).

    The project is expected to take two years to complete and will expand water storage capacity at the facility by extending existing tanks or constructing new ones. The contractor will also develop associated infrastructure and upgrade systems that transport desalinated water to the refinery, including pipelines and related equipment.

    In its 2024-25 annual report, KNPC said the project will help meet water demand for the facility’s refining and gas production units.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16852744/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Civil and piping work starts on Iraq field development

    15 May 2026

     

    Civil works and piping work have started for the project to develop a second central processing facility (CPF) at Iraq’s Ratawi oil and gas field, according to industry sources.

    The project is part of the $27bn Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), which is being developed by TotalEnergies along with its partners Basra Oil Company (BOC) and Qatar Energy.

    Phase one of the GGIP is expected to be worth about $10bn.

    Work is progressing on the project despite logistical problems related to the regional conflict that broke out after the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

    While early works are ongoing, equipment needed for later stages of the project is being delayed as it was due to be transported to the project site using ships that would have travelled through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Shipping through the Strait is still severely disrupted due to the regional conflict.

    In September, Turkiye’s Enka signed a contract to develop the second CPF at Iraq’s Ratawi field as part of the second phase of the field’s development.

    Enka did not give a value for the contract, but it is believed to be worth more than $1bn.

    In November, US-based KBR was selected by Enka to provide detailed design services for the project.

    Enka’s contract covers the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of the CPF for the project known as the Associated Gas Upstream Project Phase 2 (AGUP2).

    The aim of the AGUP2 project is to process oil and associated gas from the Ratawi oil field to increase production capacity to 210,000 barrels a day of oil and 154 million standard cubic feet a day of gas.

    GGIP masterplan

    The GGIP programme is being led by TotalEnergies, the operator, which holds a 45% stake.

    Basra Oil Company and QatarEnergy hold 30% and 25% stakes, respectively. The consortium formalised the investment agreement with the Iraqi government in September 2021.

    The four projects that comprise the GGIP are:

    • The Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP)
    • The Ratawi gas processing complex
    • A 1GW solar power project for Iraq’s electricity ministry
    • A field development project at Ratawi, known as the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP)

    The CSSP is designed to support oil production in Iraq’s southern oil and gas fields – mainly Zubair, Rumaila, Majnoon, West Qurna and Ratawi – by delivering treated seawater for injection, a method used to boost crude recovery rates and improve long-term reservoir performance.

    China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) won a $1.61bn contract in May to execute EPC work for the gas processing complex at the Ratawi field development.

    CPECC’s project team based in its Dubai office is performing detailed engineering work on the project.

    In August last year, TotalEnergies awarded China Energy Engineering International Group the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 1GW solar project at the Ratawi field. A month later, QatarEnergy signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to acquire a 50% interest in the project.

    The 1GW Ratawi solar scheme will be developed in phases, with each phase coming online between 2025 and 2027. It will have the capacity to provide electricity to about 350,000 homes in Iraq’s Basra region.

    The project, consisting of 2 million bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers, will include the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the photovoltaic power station site and 132kV booster station.

    Separately, in June, TotalEnergies awarded China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering an EPC contract worth $294m to build a pipeline as part of a package known as the Ratawi Gas Midstream Pipeline.

    Also, TotalEnergies awarded UK-based consultant Wood Group a pair of engineering framework agreements in April, worth a combined $11m, under the GGIP scheme.

    The agreements have a three-year term under which Wood will support TotalEnergies in advancing the AGUP.

    One of the aims of the AGUP is to debottleneck and upgrade existing facilities to increase production capacity to 120,000 b/d of oil on completion of the first phase, according to a statement by Wood.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16852654/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Abu Dhabi selects Yas Island site for $1.7bn Sphere venue

    14 May 2026

    Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture & Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) and US-based Sphere Entertainment have selected Yas Island as the location for the $1.7bn Sphere Abu Dhabi project.

    The venue will be built on a plot between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, close to Yas Island’s theme parks and attractions. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. Dubai-listed Alec is understood to be the selected contractor and has been working on the project’s pre-construction phase.

    The project will be the first Sphere venue outside the US. It is expected to echo the scale of Sphere Las Vegas, with a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on configuration.

    DCT Abu Dhabi said it will coordinate enabling and infrastructure works with Abu Dhabi entities, including the Department of Municipalities & Transport and its Integrated Transport Centre, the Department of Energy, Taqa, Etihad Rail and Aldar. The scope includes road enhancements, site access and site-wide infrastructure integrated with surrounding Yas Island assets.

    Sphere Abu Dhabi is the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s integrated tourism and destination-development pipeline on Yas Island, alongside major attractions and the Disney theme park resort that was announced in 2025.

    DCT and Sphere Entertainment finalised an agreement last year related to the construction, development and operation of the Sphere entertainment venue in Abu Dhabi. According to the agreement, Sphere Entertainment granted DCT the exclusive rights to build and operate the Sphere Abu Dhabi entertainment venue.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16837302/main.gif
    Colin Foreman