Global conversations
Last week I was lucky enough to be able to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience – a State Visit hosted by Her Majesty The Queen for the President of the UAE. This is pretty unique; The Queen came to the UAE on a State Visit only two and a half years ago and I am not aware of any other Head of State returning the complement so swiftly. I had … Read more »A State Visit that sets relationship of countries apart from other nations
In just a couple of days UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan will pay a State Visit to the UK at the invitation of Her Majesty The Queen. I witnessed first hand the warmth of the relationship when The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the UAE in 2010 and am delighted that the UK is now able to return that hospitality. The visit demonstrates … Read more »In anticipation of the UAE State Visit to the UK
London came to a standstill yesterday as the funeral of the former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, took place. There is no doubt that she was one of the most important leaders of my country and I am grateful for the many messages I have received from her admirers across the UAE. As the UK Ambassador to the UAE, I hope it is appropriate for me to express gratitude for … Read more »Margaret Thatcher: Remembering the lady who changed social landscape in Britain
Pancakes are amongst the simplest and yet most satisfying desserts around. Admittedly I go for the classic lemon and sugar topping every time – a habit from years past – but my kids are a little more adventurous with combinations like nutella and banana, or fresh cream and jam to name a few. So why am I writing about pancakes?… Well pancakes, as many Brits will tell you, are the … Read more »Pancake Day
I hate going to the doctor. Fortunately I was in pretty good health this week when I went to see whole hospitals full of doctors at Arab Health in Dubai. Healthcare is just one of the areas where UAE and UK cooperation excels which we celebrated last week at the ninth meeting of the UK and UAE Taskforce. This Wednesday saw the launch of Healthcare UK, a new organisation to … Read more »UK and UAE relationship looking healthy
The following is a guest post from Peter Hellyer. The main focus of the work of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, a post currently held by Dominic Jermey, is that of representing the interests of the United Kingdom. As Dominic noted at a reception held in early 2011 to mark the opening in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, of a regional office for Jersey Finance, however, he … Read more »Jersey and the UAE
As the UAE celebrates its 41st Anniversary of Union it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest wishes to His Highness the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and to the Emirati people. Since the Union was established under the leadership of HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has taken giant leaps to become the prosperous and vibrant country which we all experience today. All … Read more »UAE 41st National Day
The following is a guest post from Scottish Development International team, based in the British Embassy in Dubai St. Andrew’s Day is the official national day of Scotland and is celebrated on November 30. It is also an official flag day with the flag of Scotland, the Saltire or St Andrews Cross, flying from all buildings with a flagpole. The origins of the Saltire date back to c 832AD when … Read more »St Andrews Day
The following is a guest post by Aysha Taryam, Editor-in-Chief of the “Gulf Today” newspaper. In 1981, the 25th of November was designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day was chosen by the United Nations in honour of the Mirabal sisters, political activists who were assassinated by the president of the Dominican Republic in 1960. Since then thousands of acts of violence have been committed … Read more »Remember Remember the Twenty Fifth of November
Respect and ambition – that sums up UAE/UK relations. These were themes that kept coming across during the two day visit from our Prime Minister David Cameron to the UAE. This was the Prime Minister’s second visit to the UAE whilst in office – the last time was his first bilateral visit on becoming Prime Minister, which gives a flavour of the priority he gives to this relationship. And I … Read more »Friends and Partners