The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a world leader of the accountancy and finance professions, has opened its second international regional office in Dubai, covering the Middle East. The office is headed up by Middle East Regional Director Amanda Line ACA.
Located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the office will allow the ICAEW to work more closely with local stakeholders and offer better support to the increasing number of members and students in the Middle East. It will help the ICAEW extend training for the prestigious ACA qualification in the region and also more easily offer the expertise and knowledge of the ICAEW and its membership to governments and regulators in the Middle Eastern countries.
Speaking at the reception to mark the office opening at the British Embassy Gardens in Dubai on 8 December, ICAEW President Martin Hagen FCA, said:
"As globalisation continues, there is an increasing demand for training for the internationally recognised ACA qualification across the world. The ICAEW has offered the ACA qualification in the Middle East since 2007, however, through the establishment of this office, we can offer better and closer support to our members and students.
"The ICAEW regional office is at the heart of Dubai's finance district, making it well-connected both in the United Arab Emirates and within easy reach of the other Middle Eastern markets. Having an office on the ground will make the ICAEW better placed to work with governments, regulators and other stakeholders across the region."
Amanda Line ACA, ICAEW Middle East Regional Director, commented:
"Having a solid base of qualified accountants with knowledge of international standards will be increasingly important as the Middle Eastern markets continue to compete on the global arena. The ICAEW's ACA qualification provides students with the highest technical knowledge and ethical standards and is a great career door opener for work not just in the Middle East but across the world. We look forward to working closer with our members and other stakeholders across the region."
The office will cover the following countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. The ICAEW has more than 800 members with the ACA qualification in the Middle East. Around 650 are based in the Gulf Cooperating Council, of which 420 are located in the UAE.
The Middle East regional office in Dubai is the ICAEW's second international regional office opening in 2009. The first, covering South East Asia, opened in May 2009. Over the next few years, the ICAEW will continue to open international regional offices across the world to fulfil its strategy towards becoming a truly global body for the accountancy and finance professions, headquartered in the UK.
Media enquiries:
Contact Kirstina Reitan, ICAEW press office, on +44 (0)207 920 8607 or email kirstina.reitan@icaew.com.