Pacific Women Open Doors To Dubai As The UAE Ambassador Meets The Pacific Business Community
by Inailau Pacific Business Women's Network · SCOOPWELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND. Two Pacific women brought the Pacific business community together with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to New Zealand. Inailau Pacific Business Women’s Network and The Pacific Business Hub co-hosted Connecting the Pacific & the UAE: Doing Business in Dubai at Te Iho, Pipitea, Wellington, on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
His Excellency Rashed Matar Alqemzi attended as Special Guest and Keynote Speaker. It was the first occasion on which the Ambassador addressed the Pacific community in New Zealand directly. The evening was built on introductions, relationships and the seeds of future business in Dubai.
A Pacific welcome
His Excellency was welcomed into Te Iho with a traditional Pacific welcome, a Cook Islands Turou, led by Ta’i Richards, CEO of the Cook Islands Development Agency (CIDANZ). The procession also included His Excellency Afamasaga Fa’amatalaupu Toleafoa, High Commissioner for Samoa; Samuela Kanakatakata, Second Secretary of the Fiji High Commission; Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban DNZM QSO, Patron of the Wellington Pasifika Business Network; Ralph Hilbron, Chair of the Wellington Pasifika Business Network; and Ropeta Mene-Tulia, Deputy Secretary, Partnerships, Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
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The opening prayer was delivered in the Rotuman language by Fesaitu Solomone, CEO of the Centre for Pacific Languages. Ms Mene-Tulia led the opening remarks on behalf of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and the Pacific community. Salā Laura Keil-Hall, Founder and CEO of The Pacific Business Hub, served as MC and formally welcomed and acknowledged His Excellency on behalf of the Pacific community.
The UAE deepens its Pacific engagement
In his keynote, Ambassador Alqemzi highlighted the NZ-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in force since 28 August 2025. It includes a dedicated Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation chapter.
“The UAE, particularly Dubai, offers New Zealand businesses, including Pacific and Māori enterprises, a gateway to global markets,” said H.E. Alqemzi.
He also encouraged businesses to explore technology, renewable energy, education and healthcare, and spoke of the values the UAE and the Pacific hold in common.
“In the UAE, hospitality is more than a tradition. It reflects who we are and what we value. Family, respect for our elders, generosity, and strong community ties are at the heart of our society. These are values we proudly share with the peoples of the Pacific,” he said. “Our countries may be separated by distance, but we are connected by shared values, common ambitions, and a bright vision for the future.”
He noted that the UAE has joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a Strategic Partner.
“The UAE looks forward to further enhancing cooperation with Pacific countries in the future.”
A Pacific entrepreneur’s journey
Originally from Samoa, Afamasaga Jackie Curry, Pacific business strategist, consultant and founder of Inailau Pacific Business Women’s Network, traced her path from a first visit to Dubai in December 2023 to two years of building business relationships across the UAE.
“Nine out of ten people I meet in Dubai have never met a Samoan, or any Pacific person, before,” said Ms Curry. “New Zealand products and services carry a high perceived value in the UAE, and people are fascinated by our Pacific and Māori cultures. Being a Pacific woman and from New Zealand in Dubai is a superpower.”
She identified the sectors with the greatest potential for Pacific, Māori and Kiwi enterprise: digital and technology, health and wellness, premium packaged food, professional services (particularly construction and engineering consultancy), high-end Pacific fashion, creative and performing arts, content creators, hospitality collaborations for Pacific chefs, and real estate and investment.
“Walk through the supermarkets in Dubai, and apart from our meat, our produce and Whittaker’s chocolate, you will not find many New Zealand products on the shelves. There is real space for authentically Kiwi, Māori and Pasifika premium products in this market.”
“Networking is not a nice extra. It is the work. Relationships come before transactions. Going global does not mean leaving our culture behind. Family, service, respect, hospitality. These are not things we hide in international business. They are what we bring.”
Making the pathway practical
Ms Keil-Hall said the evening was driven by a simple purpose.
“Our Pacific businesses have the talent, ambition, products and services to compete internationally. But entering new markets isn’t just about having something to offer. It’s about having access to the right information, people and relationships. We wanted to bring those conversations directly to our business community, so they can begin exploring opportunities, asking questions and building relationships for themselves. Trade agreements can open doors, but we also need to make sure Pacific businesses have practical pathways and support to walk through them.”
Attendee James Pratt reflected afterwards on LinkedIn: “Opportunity often starts long before a transaction. It starts with a relationship.”
Moana International Consultancy
Ms Curry announced Moana International Consultancy, which provides business facilitation, market entry support and immersion trips for Pacific, Māori and Kiwi businesses and investors entering the UAE. Its name draws on Pacific traditional navigation, the ocean as connector and pathway into new markets for the people of the Pacific & wider Oceania Region. The first Dubai Business Immersion Trip of 2027 departs in early April.
“For two years, I navigated this market on my own. Now I want to help our businesses fast track their way into Dubai and UAE,” she said.
The conversation continues in Auckland in 2027
Inailau Pacific Business Women’s Network and The Pacific Business Hub will co-host the next event in the series, Connecting the Pacific & the UAE: Doing Business in Dubai, in March 2027 in Auckland. H.E. Alqemzi’s participation as keynote speaker is to be confirmed.
Afamasaga Jackie Curry will also facilitate Dubai Business Immersion Trips through Moana International Consultancy from April 2027. The trips are open to Pacific, Māori and Kiwi entrepreneurs and investors who wish to explore this market.
Acknowledgements
The organisers gratefully acknowledge the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and its team for their generous support of this event, as well as corporate sponsors FutureZone and Chas Everitt Dubai, two valued Dubai/UAE partners. Fakafetai lahi lele
The organisers acknowledge His Excellency Ambassador Rashed Alqemzi and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in New Zealand for graciously accepting our invitation and sharing UAE’s intentions to connect more with the Pacific community. Shukran jazeelan.
Special acknowledgement to His Excellency Afamasaga Fa’amatalaupu Toleafoa, High Commissioner for Samoa; Samuela Kanakatakata of the Fiji High Commission; and Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban for honouring the evening with their presence. Fa’afetai tele lava. Vinaka vaka levu.
They also thank the Wellington Pasifika Business Network and Te Awe Māori Business Network for their support in the lead-up to the event. Nga mihi. Thanks also to Ariki Maureen Tukuroa-Betham for her generous support in coordinating the traditional Cook Islands Turou welcome and other cultural aspects of the evening, and to everyone involved in coordinating and delivering the event to welcome His Excellency into our Pacific community. Meitaaki maata.
About the hosts
Inailau Pacific Business Women’s Network supports Pacific, Indigenous, ethnic and aligned women in business across Aotearoa New Zealand through community support, business education, mentoring and culturally grounded strategy. Its founder, Afamasaga Jackie Curry, is a Pacific business strategist, consultant and educator, originally from Samoa, with more than 20 years’ experience delivering business programmes.
The Pacific Business Hub (TPBH) is a faith-based, purpose-driven social enterprise founded in 2019 by Salā Laura Keil-Hall and Leota Walter Hall. Guided by its philosophy, “Of Pacific, By Pacific, For Pacific”, TPBH provides an enabling and uplifting environment for businesses through co-working and shared office spaces, business advisory services, networking and opportunities to connect, collaborate and grow.
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