On Saturday 5 December 2026, the Central Business District of Abuja will host a business gathering built around a simple idea: put enterprises, investors and institutions at the same table and let real partnerships begin. The Grand Table 2026 is an initiative of Flott Women’s Circle, organised in collaboration with the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IACCI) and Smart Solutions UAE. It is set to take place at The Grande Blanc, Tropic Galleria, and it is being convened and hosted by Safiya Umar, an Entrepreneur & Cross-Border Business Strategist.
Below is a plain-language guide to what the event is, who it is for and why it is drawing attention across three markets.
What is The Grand Table 2026?
The Grand Table is described by its organisers as an international business platform. Its stated purpose is to bring enterprises, investors and global partners together in Abuja to unlock investment, open international markets and build lasting partnerships across Nigeria, the UAE, India and beyond.
This is billed as Edition I, which makes 2026 the first time the Table is set. Rather than operating as a conventional conference with a long list of keynote slots, the programme is organised around five practical aims: enterprise development, investment connections, international market access, strategic partnerships and business expansion. Each one points at the same outcome, which is helping businesses grow beyond their home markets.
Who is behind it?
The event is led by Flott Women’s Circle, a community with offices in Abuja and Dubai. Two partners stand alongside it: the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a body focused on trade and business links between India and Africa, and Smart Solutions UAE.
The convener and host is Safiya Umar, an Entrepreneur & Cross-Border Business Strategist who is also Honorary Regional Director, GCC, at the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Her role in this edition is to bring enterprises, investors and global partners to one table in Abuja and open practical pathways to capital, markets and partnership. For a business founder weighing whether to attend, that background matters. The person convening the room works across the same corridors, from the Gulf to West Africa to India, that the event itself is trying to connect.
Why Abuja, and why these three markets?
Abuja is Nigeria’s capital and a natural meeting point for government institutions, diplomatic missions and business leaders. Choosing the Central Business District as the venue puts the event close to that ecosystem.
The focus on Nigeria, the UAE and India reflects how trade and investment interest increasingly moves between them. Nigerian enterprises look for capital and export routes. Gulf and Indian investors and companies look for markets, partners and new sectors. The Grand Table positions itself as the room where those interests can meet in a structured way, instead of through scattered introductions. Bringing those interests together is the role Safiya Umar, Entrepreneur & Cross-Border Business Strategist, has taken on as convener.
Seven sectors, one room
Enterprises and investors at The Grand Table are matched across seven priority sectors:
- Agriculture, agribusiness and food processing
- Manufacturing and industrial development
- Energy, oil and gas
- Healthcare, medical tourism and global mobility
- Artificial intelligence, technology and digital transformation
- Infrastructure, real estate and development
- Investment, international trade and enterprise growth
The list is broad on purpose. It spans traditional pillars of the Nigerian economy such as agriculture, energy and manufacturing, alongside newer areas such as AI, digital transformation and medical tourism. A founder in any of these fields can find a relevant conversation, and an investor can look across the full range in one day.
What actually happens on the day?
The organisers outline six core experiences:
- Enterprise Showcase. Selected enterprises present their businesses to investors and partners.
- Investor Meetings. Structured conversations between enterprises and investors.
- International Delegations. Delegates arrive from Nigeria, the UAE, India and other markets.
- Sector Sessions. Focused discussions across the seven priority sectors.
- Partnership Building. Introductions meant to open strategic partnerships and market access.
- Networking. Time to meet business leaders, institutions and sponsors.
The emphasis is on structure. Investor meetings are arranged conversations, and matchmaking and curated introductions depend on relevance and mutual interest. That approach is aimed at turning a crowded room into a short list of useful contacts.
Dignitaries and speakers
The published guest list includes several senior figures. Among the honoured dignitaries are H.E. Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the UAE to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Mrs. Sunanda Rajendran, Secretary-General of IACCI; H.E. Ambassador Zayyan Ibrahim, Consul General of Nigeria in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; H.E. Mohammed Saeed Bakhit Al Neyadi, Chairman of Smart Solutions Abu Dhabi UAE; and Amb. Adeshola Helen Onadipe, President of the African-Arab Women Chamber of Commerce.
The speaker line-up, titled “Voices at the Table”, features founders and executives from several countries, including Lubna Naeem of Hxperts, Rashi Rashi of Sky Global Pathways, Namrata Lodhiya of Minasu International, Magdy Al Sheikh of Armada Internationals Dubai, Maroua Kotti of Harmonie Medicale Tunisia, Aisha Bilal of Structured Spaces and Ekaterina Zeynalova of Berkeley Middle East, among others. The organisers have said more speakers will be announced.
Support comes from institutional partners such as the Consulate General of Nigeria in Dubai, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ladies in Business Magazine Global is listed as a media partner.
How can enterprises take part?
Enterprises in the seven sectors can submit an Expression of Interest. The process is simple: complete the online form and provide a company profile as a PDF, wait for the team to review every submission, and, if shortlisted, receive next steps before preparing for the showcase and investor meetings in Abuja. Online submissions open from 29 October 2026.
The organisers are clear on one point that applicants should keep in mind. Submitting an Expression of Interest does not guarantee selection, investment or funding.
Tickets and sponsorship
Delegates, investors and partners can register for general entry. Early Bird Entry is priced at US$56, and General Admission at US$115, both for one participant and both including food and beverages. Payment details are shared after a registration has been reviewed.
For companies that want more visibility, sponsorship and partner packages start at US$750 for a Business Delegate pass and rise through Executive Delegate (US$1,500), Corporate Partner (US$3,500), Silver (US$5,000), Gold (US$7,500) and Platinum (US$10,000) to a single Title Sponsor position at US$17,000. Higher tiers add benefits such as exhibition space, short business presentations and priority consideration for introductions. All prices are quoted in US dollars, with naira, dirham and rupee equivalents shown as indicative figures.
Who should consider attending?
The Grand Table is most relevant for three groups:
- Growth-stage enterprises in the seven sectors that want investor exposure or a route into international markets.
- Investors and partners looking for vetted opportunities in Nigeria and a way to meet several companies in a single day.
- Institutions and corporate sponsors that want a visible presence in a cross-border business conversation.
If you fit one of these categories, the event offers a defined route in: an application for enterprises, a registration form for delegates and investors, and a sponsorship enquiry for brands.
The takeaway
Business events are easy to announce and harder to make useful. What sets The Grand Table 2026 apart on paper is its focus: three connected markets, seven clear sectors and a format built around showcases, meetings and introductions instead of speeches alone. As a first edition convened by Safiya Umar, Entrepreneur & Cross-Border Business Strategist, and supported by IACCI and Smart Solutions UAE, it will be worth watching how the Table translates that structure into partnerships once the doors open in Abuja on 5 December.
