Explore the Middle East with Export Delaware

The Middle East is full of unique opportunities for Delaware exporters, specifically the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel. The UAE is a regional hub for over 1,500 US companies doing business in the Middle East. According to the US Commercial Service, 85% of the population is expatriates and the local business community is open to international business. Delaware exporters in the defense, healthcare, information technology, and telecommunications, and safety and security sectors are encouraged to explore business development prospects in this exciting part of the world.

Israel is the second-largest trading partner for the U.S. in the Middle East, according to the US Commercial Service. The nation has a thriving ecosystem for innovative global businesses. It is known as the “Silicon Valley of the Middle East” for the large number of successful startups that have launched there. The market is highly receptive to US products and services and a free trade agreement between Israel and the US has eliminated most tariffs on trade. Delaware exporters in the safety and security, information communication technology, energy and environmental technologies sector will do well in this market.

If your Delaware small business is interested in developing new customers in the Middle East, we invite you to join us on a business trip to Dubai and Tel Aviv to meet new customers and potential partners. We plan to travel in person from January 28 – February 4, 2022. Should it not be safe to travel then, we will postpone to the Spring of 2022.

The purpose of this trip is to meet with potential customers, distributors, and partners to develop new export business in these nations. Meeting face-to-face with prospective customers is critical to establishing new business relationships around the world. The Export Delaware team will arrange business meetings with distributors, agents, or customers according to the unique, specific needs of each company participating. You are welcome to participate in our business meeting program in either Dubai or Israel, or ideally join us in both countries.

If you are interested in participating in this trip, would like more information, contact us at Export@Delaware.gov.

Trip Overview

On this trip, our team will develop a customized meeting itinerary for each participant. We will fly into Dubai and it will be off to the races, where you will spend two days meeting with potential customers and distributors. Then we will fly to Tel Aviv, where we will spend two more days taking additional meetings with potential customers and partners there. It will be a full schedule, but you will have the support of our team in-country, and personal drivers to make sure you get to every meeting safely and on time.

While in Dubai, you will receive specialized support from our trade representatives, Joe Hepworth and Vineetha Sony, who have a combined 15 years of experience helping exporters grow their businesses abroad. Elysa Rapoport will coordinate the Israel leg of the trip. Elysa has nearly 10 years of export trade development experience there.

Both teams will arrange business meetings with distributors, agents, or customers according to your needs, all specific to your company.

This trip is funded in part by a cooperative creative agreement with the US Small Business Administration. Eligible Delaware small businesses may receive grant funding to help offset the cost of traveling. Read more below to learn about this opportunity and to see if you qualify.

Before we leave for the trip, extensive research will take place to identify a target list of clients for your business. The State of Delaware’s trade representatives and the Export Delaware team will then schedule meetings for you with companies on your target list. Once you arrive in-country, we will host a briefing session and help prepare you for the meetings. Each company will have a comprehensive meeting schedule.

Does My Business Qualify?

To qualify to participate in this trip, your business must meet the size requirements of the SBA (listed here), and the goods or services your organization that you will promote on this trip must be of US origin OR have at least 51% US content.

In addition, you must meet the following requirements:

• Operate in Delaware at a Delaware street address
• Be in business longer than one year
• Have an export plan
• Be determined export-ready by Export Delaware

Apply to participate before October 31!

Apply to Participate Here

Spots for this business trip are limited and awarded on a competitive basis. You must complete an Export Delaware STEP grant application to be considered. If you are interested in participating in this trip, would like more information, or are ready to apply contact us at Export@Delaware.gov.