The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has appointed Gemma Stevenson as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for the Middle East and Pakistan and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates. She will assume the role in September 2026.
Before her appointment, Stevenson served as Director for the UK’s Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises at the Department for Business and Trade. She previously held senior civil service roles overseeing the UK’s commercial ties with the Indo-Pacific, as well as economic and investment security.
Before entering public service, Gemma spent 10 years working as an adviser to the governments of India and Afghanistan, on trade and commerce in South Asia and as Director of the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan. She has been a consultant to private sector clients in the UK from the professional services, transport and consumer goods industries.
Gemma is a graduate of Modern History and Modern Languages, Oxford University and a Masters in Economic Public Policy from Princeton University.
Key Highlights:
- Gemma Stevenson appointed as HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan
- Brings extensive experience in UK trade and international commerce
- Will strengthen UK trade and investment across the Middle East and Pakistan
Gemma is excited to see her country complete a pivotal free trade agreement (FTA) with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is a major win for the UK and the Gulf and an important milestone in the UK's plans to grow its economy through high-quality trade deals that benefit the entire country.
“Our work on trade and investment is more than the exchange of goods and services and capital flows. It is about shared ambition, trust and relationships that deliver innovation and growth. I look forward to working with government and private sector partners across the Middle East and Pakistan to realize these opportunities.” Gemma Stevenson said.
Sarah Mooney, who has been acting as Interim His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner since early 2025, said “It has been a privilege to lead DBT in the Middle East and Pakistan in support of the government’s growth mission. Across every market, I have seen for myself the opportunities for UK business, as well as a genuine appetite from countries in the region to deepen their partnership with the UK towards shared economic growth.”
The HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for the Middle East and Pakistan works closely with the wider diplomatic network and government colleagues to coordinate efforts to promote UK trade and prosperity across the region. The HMTC is responsible for all Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) activities in the Middle East and Pakistan, including strengthening trade and investment ties, improving market access for British companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and advancing trade policy. The commissioner also collaborates with UK-based government officials, UK ambassadors and the wider diplomatic network to achieve these objectives.
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