Gemma Stevenson
Biography
Gemma Stevenson is His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for the Middle East and Pakistan, and His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, taking up the role in September 2026.
Prior to this role, Gemma was Director in the Department for Business and Trade covering the UK’s Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises. She previously held senior civil service roles focusing on the UK’s commercial relationship with the Indo-Pacific, and economic and investment security.
Before joining the civil service, Gemma spent a decade in South Asia where she was an adviser to the Indian and Afghan governments on trade and commerce issues, and Director to the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan. She has acted as a consultant for private sector clients in the UK from the professional services, transport and consumer goods sectors.
Gemma holds a degree in Modern History and Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Economic Public Policy from Princeton University.
British Consul General to Dubai
The Consul General is the senior UK official at the British Embassy in Dubai, and leads the government’s work promoting UK economic, commercial, political and consular interests in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan
HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan cooperates closely with the wider diplomatic network and other colleagues to coordinate the government effort overseas to promote UK trade and prosperity.
The Trade Commissioner has full responsibility for all Department for Business and Trade (DBT) work in the region including:
- growing the overall bilateral trade and investment relationship
- improving market access for British companies, including small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)
- developing finance and trade policy
- UK Export Finance