Dubai When Queen Elizabeth II hosted President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his state visit, UK expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates were tuned in to television, online and newspaper reports across the country to watch the historic tour unfold.

After Shaikh Khalifa wrapped up his two-day visit on Wednesday, UK expatriates told Gulf News that they believe shoring up a centuries-old friendship can only bring good things to both sides of the table.

Jack Cooper, an account executive who hails from Kent, has lived in Dubai since 2012 and said the visit is good both on the social and business sides of the friendship.

“The positive outcomes of discussions held during His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s state visit to the UK will further strengthen the close socioeconomic relationship between the two countries.”

Fahad Mughal, a Digital Media Planner from London who has lived in Dubai for five years, said he was glad to witness the visit.

“It’s comforting to know that relations between your home country and your country of residence are consistently being strengthened through positive initiatives such as His Highness’ trip to London. It makes living abroad a whole lot easier.”

Leanne McCabe, an Abu Dhabi resident from Ireland, said: “I’m very delighted to see [Shaikh Khalifa’s] visit to the UK. There are already very strong ties between the UK and the UAE, and the visit politically strengthens the ties even more.”

“I was glad to see on TV and read in the newspapers that the visit is going very well and I think it definitely created stronger relations between both countries.”

British expatriate and nutritionist Vijay Ramburuth, 32, said, “As a British Citizen and now nearly four year resident of the UAE, I think the visit is a prime opportunity for the British public to become more aware of the Middle East and the positivity that can come from the ties between the UAE and UK. The two countries have a long and well-forged relationship that only a small percentage of the UK would be aware of. Hopefully this visit will highlight the positive sides of life in the Middle East, and how working together can improve the UK’s economy. I believe this relationship is already firmly cemented, although from an economic side only. Hopefully, the UK public opinion and perceptive of this region will improve from Shaikh Khalifa’s state visit.”

Holly Sands, 24, a British journalist said Shaikh Khalifa’s visit to the UK seems to be largely ceremonial, and just a servicing of the aesthetics of the existing relationship between the two countries. I don’t believe anything of impact will come from his discussions with Prime Minister David Cameron.”