It's very exciting heading off on a week’s business to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. As exciting a trip as the honeymooners sat next to me who were heading to the Maldives, but in a very different way. It was a very balmy evening as I left Glasgow, however, I knew what was coming when I would arrive in Dubai 7 hours later - a wall of heat would hit me as I left the terminal building.
It's going to be an amazing week, particularly as there are 28 companies heading from Scotland to take on the Middle East and bring business back into our country.
I've completed this trip a few times now, however, for some, it’s their first trip and I’m sure they will be absolutely buzzing from their first full day of meetings.
The British Embassy took some of the party to Sharjah to meet Chamber of Commerce members. I had meetings with groups of leading international schools and there were some great conversations and plenty of solid opportunities ahead.
Ultimately, we want our teachers to have as good a choice of school as possible, and to that end, we've opened more doors and started to build great relationships which is great news for our teachers, our schools and ourselves.
We have a reception this evening, meeting up to 80 local business people including the Dubai Global Scots who alway try to help and support Scottish businesses visiting the UAE whenever possible. Thank you to all of them and here’s to some great connections.
Will update you all as the week progresses.
Roddy