British queen's cavalry to perform in Abu Dhabi

London: Edward Oakden, UK ambassador to the UAE, has spoken about the important relationship between the UK and UAE.

"The fact is that there is no relationship the United Kingdom has with countries in the Middle East that is more important to us than that with United Arab Emirates," he said at a press conference in London.

Britain's Household Cavalry Musical Ride of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's first performance at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) was announced at the conference.

"We have there the largest British community in the region by far, somewhere [between] 230,000-240,000. It's by far our largest export market," Oakden said, continuing "We try to bring the UAE the best of British!"

ADIHEX will be held between September 30 and October 3, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

"It is the regiment team of horse riders exhibiting equestrian skills in a ceremonial uniform set to music, increasingly modern music," said Colonel Toby Browne, Commander of Household Cavalry Regiment.

"It's an invitation we felt we could not say no to," he added.

The participation of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is seen as part of Abu Dhabi's strategy in seeking to build bridges between cultures, and encouraging dialogue across borders.

"The UAE and the UK have long shared a huge respect for each other's cultures and traditions," said Abdul Rahman Ganem Al Mutaiwe'e, UAE Ambassador to the UK. "Although I have only just been appointed as a UAE ambassador to the United Kingdom, I have always held London in high regards, and I am very aware of course of the iconic status of the Queen's Cavalry," the ambassador said.

The exhibition is also intended to highlight the culture and heritage of the UAE.

"I think that anything we can do to cement the relations between Abu Dhabi and the UK is a good thing," said General Lord Charles Guthrie.

"We have a passion for horses both in this county and the UAE," he added.

ADIHEX is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Falconers' Club (EFC), and organised by the EFC in collaboration with Turret Middle East, and supported by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).