A delegation of five British parliamentarians from the UAE all-party group in the UK Parliament has begun a four-day visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
During the trip, they will meet senior ministers, the Speaker of the Federal National Council, business leaders and visit Expo 2020 Dubai.
The delegation is led by David Jones, a member of the British Parliament.
“The UAE is an important international partner of the United Kingdom,” said Mr Jones. “We share a long historical relationship and today are major investors in each other's countries. Dubai has the largest British population of any city outside the UK.
“Visits such as this help strengthen the personal ties that will ensure a continuing firm relationship into the future. It is also an opportunity to show our solidarity with the people who live here in the light of the recent Houthi terrorist attacks.”
Mansoor Abulhoul, the UAE’s ambassador to the UK, said it was exciting to have the delegation visiting after the Covid-19 pandemic had halted such visits from about two years.
“This is the second parliamentary delegation to visit the UAE this year,” said Mr Abulhoul. “By seeing what the UAE has built, its openness to the world and its place in the region, policymakers in the UK and elsewhere can understand why the relationship between our countries is so important.”
Britain's Prince William visited the UAE on Thursday. The Duke of Cambridge toured mangroves in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali Port before heading to Expo 2020 Dubai, where he did an impromptu meet and greet with thousands of people who came to see him. He also met Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince Dubai.
Prince William visits the UAE - in pictures
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Prince William plants mangrove seedlings with pupils. Victor Besa / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. After the tour, they were due to hold a private bilateral meeting. Getty -
Prince William visits the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Visitors outside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Prince William greets Expo visitors outside the UK Pavilion. Victor Besa / The National -
The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Prince William chat inside the UAE pavilion. Getty -
Prince William watches a display inside the UAE Pavilion, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Noura Al Kaabi. Getty -
The Duke of Cambridge signs the pavilion guestbook. Getty -
Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Prince William, centre, visits Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. AFP -
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, speaks to the prince about work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Getty -
The duke’s visit to the port is part of a busy tour of the UAE. Getty -
Prince William's visit will build on the strong bond between the UK and the UAE. Getty -
The duke travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to visit one of the world’s busiest ports. John Dennehy / The National -
Prince William sees how goods are monitored in and out of the port. John Dennehy / The National -
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visits Jubail Mangrove Park with the prince. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Prince William at the mangrove park in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William and pupils at Jubail Mangrove Park. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
The prince and companies in the UAE are working together to protect flora and fauna. Victor Besa / The National -
Children tend to seedlings after meeting Prince William. Victor Besa / The National -
The seedlings were planted at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Lilly-Rose Mayall and Amaan Haider of the British School Al Khubairat plant mangrove seedlings. Victor Besa / The National -
The view from Prince William's plane as he arrives in Dubai. Photo: Kensington Royal -
Prince William during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last year. The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the UAE for his first official trip to the Emirates. Getty -
Pupils at Victory Heights Primary school thought of some burning questions for Prince William before his visit to Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Prince William visited Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
