Ronnie Graham, managing partner of the Dubai office of law firm Winston Taylor, has been appointed Scotland’s Trade and Investment Envoy to the United Arab Emirates. Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn announced the appointment before setting off on a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Graham leads the Middle East practice of Winston Taylor, a transatlantic firm, and advises high net worth individuals, families and private companies across the region on a range of legal matters. In his new role he joins Scotland’s network of trade envoys, who use their professional standing and contacts to help Scottish companies break into overseas markets. Flynn congratulated him and said Graham’s “experience and standing across the region’s business and investment community” would help Scottish firms build relationships in the Gulf.
The appointment is part of a wider push by the Scottish Government to deepen economic ties with the UAE. During his visit, Flynn is meeting government ministers, investors and business leaders, and will attend Investopia in Abu Dhabi, which is the UAE Government’s flagship investment forum. He is also taking part in ministerial discussions on economic growth. Flynn said the Investopia Global event held in Edinburgh last December had built momentum for closer work with UAE partners, and that the trip should help Scottish companies reach new markets, win contracts and create jobs at home.
A key outcome of the visit will be confirmation of Scotland Week 2027, which will take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in March. The programme will combine trade and cultural events designed to showcase Scottish businesses, innovation and culture to audiences in the Emirates. Flynn said the plans would give Scotland a platform to strengthen its ties with the UAE for years to come.
For Graham, the envoy post adds a public role to a private legal practice that already serves wealthy individuals, families and private companies across the region. His task will be to use those connections to open doors for Scottish exporters and investors in the Emirates, working alongside the ministers and officials who lead the government’s trade programme. The appointment will be tested quickly. Scotland Week is only months away, and Flynn has made clear that he wants the government’s recent run of investment events, from Edinburgh last December to Investopia in Abu Dhabi, to turn into contracts and jobs for Scottish businesses.
