Correspondence relating to Deputy First Minister’s United Arab Emirates Visit: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for information relating to the Deputy First Minister's visit to the United Arab Emirates in January 2026, specifying:

a) Copies of all minutes, notes and records of meetings held during the visit involving the deputy first minister and/or Scottish Government officials

b) Copies of all correspondence (including emails and messages) between 1 December 2025 and 26th February 2026 involving the deputy first minister or Scottish Government officials and concerning the UAE visit. This should include both internal correspondence and discussions with UAE government representatives, state-linked entities, investors or businesses.

c) Copies of any minutes, correspondence or briefing materials held by the Scottish Government that refer to Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh in the context of the UAE visit or discussions with UAE government representatives, state-linked entities, or investors.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested – please see attached and below.

Regarding your request for all minutes, notes and records of the January 2026, I enclose some of the information you requested in the attached document:

Document one – Meeting notes – Redacted [ATTACHED]

Some information has been redacted where exemptions apply. These are explained at the end of this document.

In response to point b) of your query, requesting correspondence relating to the visit, Section 12 of FOISA applies.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. The volume of material captured by the scope of your request is substantial. Initial searches identified approximately 4,000 emails, along with associated attachments and documents, that may fall within scope.

To identify, locate and retrieve all relevant information across the date range and subject matter you specify would require extensive searches across multiple business areas of the Scottish Government. This is because correspondence is filed according to subject matter, not by the names of individuals or organisations involved. As a result, a full search would require manual review of a large volume of records across the organisation.

Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600. For example, you could:

• limit the request to correspondence directly involving the Deputy First Minister, rather than all Scottish Government officials; and/or
• specify particular subject areas or meetings of interest relating to the UAE visit, rather than all correspondence on the visit more generally.

These refinements would significantly reduce the volume of material requiring review and would allow us to undertake more focused searches.

You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ‘Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs’ on his website at: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Tipsforrequesters.aspx.

In response to point c) of your query, the Scottish Government does not hold any minutes, correspondence or briefing materials referring to Ocean Terminal in the context of the Deputy First Minister’s UAE visit or discussions with UAE government representatives, state‑linked entities or investors.

Accordingly, I must give you formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

Information behind the Redactions – Meeting notes:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because of exemptions under various sections of FOISA.

These sections apply to some of the information you have requested:

Section 28 (1) – Relations within the UK

Where disclosure would be likely to prejudice confidential exchanges or working relationships between UK administrations

Section 30(b)(i) - Free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views

Where the information contains free and frank advice or views provided to Ministers for their consideration.

Section 32(1)(a)(i) – Relations between the UK and any other state

Where disclosure would be likely to prejudice the UK’s ability to maintain effective relations or conduct its business with another state.

Section(32)(1)(a)(iv) – Promotion or protection by the UK of its interests abroad

Where disclosure would be likely to substantially prejudice the UK’s ability to promote or protect its interests internationally.

Section 33(1)(b) - Commercial interests

Where releasing the information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of an organisation or individual. Certain aspects of the information are considered sensitive and cannot be released publicly.

These exemptions are subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in disclosure to promote open, transparent and accountable government, and to support informed public debate about Scottish Government decision‑making and policy development.

However, we have concluded that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions. In this case, releasing the information would be likely to prejudice sensitive policy discussions, harm confidential exchanges between administrations or international partners, undermine the UK’s ability to conduct its business abroad, or adversely affect commercial interests. Protecting the space for officials and Ministers to receive free and frank advice, maintaining trusted relationships within the UK and internationally, and safeguarding commercially sensitive material is considered to be of greater public interest in this instance.

Section 38(1)(b) - Personal data relating to third party

Where the information contains personal data relating to an identifiable third party, and disclosure would breach data protection principles. All names of Civil Servants below SCS level and contact
details have been redacted.

This exemption is NOT subject to the 'public interest test'.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600508624 - Information Released - Document One

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