Architects of Market Access & Economic Development.
Two Engines of Engagement
About Sesam Connect
Sesam Connect is a Dubai-based market access firm established in 1999. For over 25 years, foreign governments, economic development organisations, and institutional partners have engaged us to create structured, senior-level access across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC — turning market interest into verified commercial outcomes.
We operate at an intersection most advisory firms cannot occupy: we hold sustained relationships across government ministries and private sector leadership built through 25 years of continuous regional presence — and we know how to activate those relationships on behalf of our clients. It is the foundation of everything we do.
On the trade and investment side, we design and execute trade missions, investor outreach programmes, and B2B engagement under performance mandates — delivering qualified introductions, senior government access, and measurable outcomes for foreign principals entering or deepening their presence in the region.
On the conference and platforms side, we produce and curate expert conferences, technical forums, and multi-edition platform programmes that serve as precision instruments for market access. We identify the strategic sector theme, bring government bodies and regulatory anchors to the table, and build the sponsor ecosystem around them. The result is not a one-off event — it is an enduring platform of visibility, credibility, and coalition that sustained regional presence requires.
In both disciplines, our role is the same: we architect the access. We build the coalition. We sustain the engagement.
Sep 1999
Founded in Dubai
Sesam Connect established as a trade and investment facilitation firm in the UAE.
Feb 2004
GEC & Abu Dhabi Chamber — Industrial Expo 2004
Appointed to lead international sales and marketing for one of the UAE's major industrial exhibitions.
Feb 2008
Green Building Conference Series — UAE Launch
Conceived, sponsored, and delivered three editions of a proprietary conference platform aligned with the UAE's first green building legislation.
Feb 2011
German Federal Health Ministry Delegation
Facilitated a ministerial trade delegation led by Health Minister Philipp Rösler at Arab Health Dubai, followed by a bilateral visit to Oman.
Dec 2011
International Conference for Sustainable Construction Materials
Launched in collaboration with Dubai Municipality’s Central Laboratory, convening regional stakeholders around evolving construction material standards.
Nov 2012
Safety Design & Buildings (SDiB) — Launch
Established a multi-year platform covering life safety, fire protection, and building design across the GCC.
Mar 2014
Fire Safety Forum UAE
Delivered in collaboration with Dubai Civil Defence, convening regulatory and industry stakeholders around UAE life safety standards.
Apr 2015
ASTM Cement Conference & Workshop — Kuwait
Delivered this annual technical forum, extending conference operations across the GCC.
2015
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development — GCC Representative
Appointed as the Ministry’s exclusive regional representative, delivering trade missions and investor engagement over a four-year mandate.
Oct 2021 – Mar 2022
Expo 2020 Dubai — Three National Pavilions
Commissioned by Slovakia (SARIO), Latvia (LEA), and Estonia (EAS) to coordinate commercial engagement at their national pavilions.
Mar 2026
Central Baltic SME Programme — Saudi Arabia
Appointed market expert for an EU-backed initiative supporting SMEs from Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia entering the Saudi market.