THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The partnership between Britain and the UAE has progressed enormously since the Queen's last visit there in 1979, writes Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Today, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and I will sign the 2010 Abu Dhabi Declaration, reaffirming the 1971 Treaty of Friendship between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
This is much more than ceremonial. It is representative of a vibrant strategic partnership that has the potential not only to deliver real benefits to our two countries but to strengthen our ability to provide joint leadership on matters of global significance.
The strength and vitality of our relationship with the UK has been an important driver in the UAE’s development ever since Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, the founder and former President of the UAE, signed the original Treaty of Friendship in December 1971.
Today, there are more than 100,000 Britons living and working in the UAE. In four short decades our country has been transformed and the British have played an important role, helping to build our society and economy and in many cases making the UAE their long-term home.
At the same time, the UAE has been making an increasing contribution to life in Britain: tens of thousands of Emiratis visit the UK each year; we have collaborations with leading British institutions in education, health and culture, among many other areas; and we have diverse investments in the UK. >>> Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister | Thursday, November 25, 2010
