Total trade between the UK and GCC countries rose by more than 70% to £64.5bn ($82.7bn) in the fiscal year that ended in March, driven by rising oil prices and a demand for services as Gulf countries’ move to diversify their economies.
According to an analysis of statistics released by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade by AGBI, which is a new platform that provides intelligence and analysis around the Middle East’s commercial opportunities and challenges, trade in goods and services eclipsed last year’s figure of £37bn.
Over £15bn of trade consisted of UK imports of oil and gas from Qatar and other GCC countries.
The fourth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement took place last week in London.
Discussions were held across 23 policy areas over 44 sessions and “good progress” was made, a government statement said.
Freddie Neve, senior Middle East associate at analyst Asia House, told AGBI that oil still accounts for a significant portion of UK-Gulf trade.
Average prices rose to $100 a barrel last year, compared with almost $70 in 2021.
“The UK has increased its purchases of Gulf oil and gas since the start of the Ukraine conflict to compensate for supplies it previously received from Russia,” Neve said.
Neve added that trade also continues to be boosted by the GCC’s efforts to diversify away from oil. This has encouraged growth in Gulf imports of UK professional services to assist delivery of various projects.
UK exports of services to the region rose significantly last year to nearly £18bn.
Chris Innes-Hopkins, UK executive director of the Saudi British Joint Business Council, said the latest figures reflected a “growing engagement” by UK companies in new sectors of the fast-growing Saudi economy.
“The services sector is particularly buoyant and it’s good to see many smaller UK companies getting involved in fintech, creative industries and education opportunities among others,” he said.
Foreign secretary James Cleverly highlighted the UK’s growing partnership with Gulf countries last week during a three-day visit to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan.
The UK government has announced that citizens from Qatar and other GCC countries besides Jordan will be among the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation visa scheme, which will make travel to the British isles cheaper and easier for visitors.
Bradley Jones, executive director of the UAE-UK Business Council, said the COP28 environmental conference, which will be hosted in Dubai later this year, is “really drawing attention” to opportunities for UK-UAE collaboration in sustainability and decarbonisation.
Lord Dominic Johnson, a minister of state in the UK’s Department for Business & Trade, added: “We are seeing extraordinary rates of growth for British companies operating in the Gulf.
“I spoke to one of the big accounting firms. They’re looking at 35% annual growth.”
He said that he met a number of construction and infrastructure companies last month at the prime minister’s business reception in Downing Street who are reporting ”phenomenal rates of growth”, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
UK secretary of state for business and trade, Kemi Badenoch, had visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in May to maintain momentum on the potential trade deal.