Founder & CEO of UK-MENA · formerly Deputy CEO & Secretary General of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce · one of the UK’s leading authorities on UK–Arab trade relations.
Four decades spent building trust between two regions — now brought directly to a select group of clients.
Abdeslam El-Idrissi served the best part of over forty years with the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, progressing through Director of Trade Services and Acting General Manager to Deputy CEO & Secretary General — the role he held until retiring from the Chamber in 2026 to devote himself fully to UK-MENA. Over that time he cultivated enduring relationships with British chambers, government bodies, embassies, educational institutions and NGOs across the Arab world and the UK regions.
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s foremost experts on UK–Arab trade relations, he is in frequent demand as a keynote speaker across both regions, and has been a central figure in the chamber’s work facilitating trade, authenticating documentation and bridging the cultural and commercial gaps between Britain and the Arab world.
He is a key member of the Institute of Export, where he previously served for seven years as Vice Chair of the London Branch. Earlier in his career he was an elected local government councillor for two decades, chairing the local planning committee and founding a regional chamber of commerce.
UK-MENA distils that judgement, network and standing into bespoke counsel for governments, boards and corporations navigating the UK–MENA corridor — delivered privately, and on each client’s terms.
Trade rarely turns on documents alone. It turns on who will take the call — across the institutions that shape the UK–MENA corridor.
Fluent reading of commercial, cultural and political context across both regions.
Introductions earned over decades, never transactional and never given lightly.
Clear, practical counsel built around your objectives, risk and time horizon.
Relationships and ventures designed to endure well beyond the first deal.
A keynote speaker in demand across both regions — at chambers, summits, signings and diplomatic receptions.
