Dubai: The Prince of Wales briefly visited the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
The visit by Prince Charles followed a visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier in the week.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Buckingham Palace, Prince Charles passed on best wishes from The Queen.
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Prince Charles and welcomed his guest as they exchanged talks on the friendly ties and cooperation between the UAE and the UK and best ways to enhance them in the interests of both countries.
During the meeting, cooperation between the two countries was discussed within the framework of historical ties and common strategic interests.
Events and developments in the regional and international arenas were also discussed, with both parties exchanging views on a number of issues of common interest.
Prince Charles expressed his happiness at visiting the UAE and lauded the excellent relations between the two countries.
Prince Charles’s visit comes less than a year after President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to the UK in April 2013.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh also visited the UAE in 2010 on an invitation extended to them by Shaikh Khalifa.
The visit by The Prince of Wales to the UAE and Bahrain, supported by The British Government, reflected the long-standing relationships between the United Kingdom and both countries as well as the 200-year old connections, which exist between the British Royal Family, the Al Nahyan Royal Family in the UAE and the Al Khalifa Royal Family in Bahrain.
The Queen’s Ambassador to the UAE, Dominic Jermey said: “The visit of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales symbolises the longstanding friendship between our Royal Families, and demonstrates partnership at the very highest level.
“These personal ties act as a bedrock in the UK-UAE relationship and allow us to collaborate with confidence on the many issues our people are passionate about, not least critical issues in the region and around the world.”
The Queen’s Ambassador to Bahrain, Iain Lindsay said: “The UK/Bahrain relationship is a warm, close and long-standing one. Our first agreement of friendship dates from 1816, which is why over the next two years, leading up to 2016, we shall be celebrating the bicentenary of bilateral relations. “I am delighted His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales is visiting Bahrain. The British Royal Family has a strong and well-established relationship with the Bahraini Royal Family. This visit underlines the strength of the UK’s bilateral ties with Bahrain.”
— With inputs from WAM
