State Visit: Testament of bonds that tie the UK-UAE relationship
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi has accepted an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from 30 April to 1 May 2013.
The Queen, escorted by the President of the UAE in 2010
The UK and UAE share a longstanding and unique history and the forthcoming visit will mark an important milestone in that history and will be testimony to the strength of the friendship at the very highest level.
Her Majesty The Queen will host His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan at Windsor Castle and will hold a State Luncheon in the President’s honour. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan’s programme will also include a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister David Cameron at Number 10 Downing Street, the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey and tea with the Prince of Wales at Clarence House.
The Queen and the President of the UAE at State Banquet held at Mushrif Palace in 2010
There is a close personal relationship between the royal families and leaders of the UAE and UK. The visit follows directly from the State Visit of Her Majesty The Queen to the UAE in November 2010 and will reciprocate the warmth of the hospitality that she and the Duke of Edinburgh received during their stay. It was during that visit that the UK and UAE reaffirmed the 1971 Treaty of Friendship and the spirit of that friendship endures even more firmly today.
The close collaboration was further highlighted by the visit to the UAE last November by the Prime Minister David Cameron during which our two countries celebrated the friendship and agreed an ambitious plan to develop cooperation still further. This covered the areas of trade, defence, education, infrastructure, technology transfer, global challenges, energy, climate change and more.
Speaking on the announcement of the State Visit the UK Ambassador to the UAE Dominic Jermey said:
President Khalifa’s State Visit to the UK celebrates a decades old friendship between the UK and UAE that will extend long into the future. The visit will be a significant personal moment in the warm relationship between President Khalifa and The Queen, as well as a milestone in the bilateral relationship between our two countries. It will demonstrate the importance the British- our people, our Government and our Queen - attach to the relationship. I see this as a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how the ties have developed since Her Majesty’s visit to the UAE in 2010.
The ties between our nations draw strength from the links between our people, ranging from our thriving educational and tourism links to our growing investment in each other’s economies. Our practical cooperation and bond of friendship have never been stronger.
The UK Government is very proud of the role that British expertise and commitment has played in building the modern Emirates. It is equally delighted by the contribution Emiratis have made to British society, and the warmth with which the large British community living in the UAE have been received here.
His Highness will be accompanied on the visit by a high level delegation of UAE Government leaders.