Defence Co-operation
The Prince Philip and the Crown Prince of Dubai viewed a flyby of UAE and UK fast jets as a part of the UK Royal visit to the UAE.
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, viewed a flyby of UAE and UK fast jets as a part of the UK Royal visit to the UAE. They also met with 80 members of a UAE Forces Alumni, made up of ex-students from Britain’s Armed Forces Officers’ Naval, Air Force and Military (Army) Academies. The Duke of Edinburgh and Crown Prince were accompanied by Prince Andrew, Duke of York (who took a Royal salute), His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Himself a graduate of Sandhurst and “Sword of Honour” winner), British Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon William Hague MP and Senior Sheikhs.
Defence co-operation between the UAE and the UK was a key element of the 1971 Treaty of Friendship and the two countries continue to cooperate effectively in the areas of defence, security, intelligence and logistical support, with defence cooperation remaining a key pillar of the broader bilateral relationship. During this current visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the UAE a declaration was signed by the Foreign Ministers of the UAE and the UK to renew the commitment of both countries to this historic agreement.
In excess of 198 UAE Nationals have graduated from Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst since 1974: the second highest representation from any country outside of the UK. The distinguished list of graduates include His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.