Middle East and North Africa

United Arab Emirates
Last revised: 12 January 2009

Country information

See entire profile

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Iran have been soured by the dispute over the sovereignty of the three Abu Musa and Tunbs islands. The UAE takes a philosophical view about the need for reconciliation with Iraq partly because of concerns that a weakened Iraq encourages Iran's regional ambitions. The UAE strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in the USA in September 2001.

UAE'S Relations with the UK

Bilateral relations are good. The UAE is our largest export market in the Middle East for non-military goods. As many as 120,000 British nationals reside in the UAE and one million visit every year. Our Defence Cooperation Agreement represents our largest defence commitment outside NATO.

Cultural Relations with the UK

The British Council maintains offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

British Council, UAE

Recent Visits

Outward

January 2008: HRH The Duke of York
October 2007: Lord West
June 2007: The Defence Secretary
June 2007: Alistair Darling, Trade Secretary
March 2007: Foreign Secretary
February 2007: HRH The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
February 2007: The Lord Mayor
December 2006: The Prime Minister (Tony Blair)
December 2006: The Lord Mayor of London
December 2006: Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
November 2006: The Defence Secretary
November 2006: Ed Balls, Chief Secretary, HM Treasury
October 2006: Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence
April 2006: Dr Howells, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
January 2006: Dr Howells, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office & the Duke of Gloucester (Condolence visit)
February 2005: HRH The Duke of York
February 2005: Secretary of State for Defence
January 2005: Baroness Symons, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
November 2004: HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duke of York, Secretary of State for Defence (Condolence visit)
April 2004: the Lord Mayor of London
March 2004: Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
November 2003: HRH The Duke of York
February 2003: Lord Mayor of London

Inward

November 2007: His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed called on the Foreign Secretary
October 2007: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai met with the Prime Minister.
November 2006: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi met with the Prime Minister.
March 2006: His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister met with the Foreign Secretary.
January 2006: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi met with the Prime Minister.
June 2003: His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.