This month marks five years since the Abraham Accords were signed, and it is a fitting moment to explain something we are often asked about: why Sen & Ray chooses to be a founding member rather than a follower.
When the UAE-Israel Business Council was formed, we did not wait to see how the relationship would develop. We joined at the start, because we believe the most valuable work a professional services firm can do is help build new connections between markets. Being a founding member is not a badge for us. It is a statement of how we intend to work.
Our philosophy: be there first, and stay
We believe new markets are opened by people who show up early, earn trust and stay for the long term. That conviction shapes everything we do.
It is also personal. I have Indian roots and grew up in the UAE, so moving between markets and cultures has always felt natural to me. Sen & Ray itself reflects this: our Dubai firm is backed by Sen & Ray Chartered Accountants in India, and our network draws on more than 50 years of audit, consulting and advisory experience.
Three principles guide us:
- Early commitment. We invest in a corridor before it is crowded. That is when clients most need a guide, and when relationships are built that last for decades.
- Both sides of the table. A bridge needs two foundations. We work to understand the regulators, business culture and expectations in each market we connect, not just our own.
- Trust through rigour. Cross-border business runs on confidence. Our grounding in audit, accounting and compliance means clients and counterparties know that what we put our name to is sound.
Every corridor we serve runs through Dubai, where our team is based.
The corridors we serve
Dubai sits at the centre of three of the most exciting business corridors in the world today. We are proud to work in all of them.
UAE–India: a partnership in its prime. India and the UAE have one of the world's most dynamic economic relationships. It has been strengthened by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, in force since May 2022, and by local-currency settlement in rupees and dirhams. With our roots in India, this is home ground for us. We help Indian groups establish and govern UAE and DIFC entities, and we guide cross-border investment, including the FEMA and regulatory requirements on the Indian side.
UAE–Israel: a new frontier, five years young. The Abraham Accords opened a corridor that has grown remarkably quickly, supported by a free trade agreement in force since April 2023. We have helped Israeli companies in defence and aerospace set up in the UAE and ADGM, liaise with regulators and structure cross-border joint ventures. We have also supported healthcare businesses with UAE distribution entities and acquisition strategy.
UAE–Africa: the corridor of the future. The UAE has become one of Africa's most significant investment partners, and Dubai is the natural gateway for businesses expanding across the continent. We advise on cross-border structuring, governance and compliance for clients operating between the UAE and African markets, including French-speaking Africa.
What bridge-building looks like in practice
Building bridges is not a slogan for us. It is the day-to-day work of turning an opportunity into a functioning, compliant business.
- Choosing the right structure. We help clients choose between mainland UAE, the free zones, ADGM and DIFC based on who they need to sell to, not just on cost.
- Opening doors with regulators. From ministries to licensing authorities, we manage the engagement that makes a new entity credible from day one.
- Structuring partnerships that last. Joint ventures, distribution agreements and acquisitions succeed when governance, ownership and expectations are clear from the start.
- Keeping the bridge sound. Accounting, audit, corporate secretarial support and AML/CFT compliance keep a cross-border business trusted by banks, regulators and partners, year after year.
Looking ahead
The next decade belongs to the connectors: the firms, founders and investors who can move confidently between markets. Dubai is where those corridors meet, and we are more excited about them today than on the day we began.
We will keep showing up early, investing in relationships and standing on both sides of every bridge we help build. If you are looking to grow between the UAE, India, Israel or Africa, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Aryan Biswas, Managing Director at Sen & Ray - Dubai