Dubai: The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are confirmed to visit the UAE on November 6-8 as part of a regional three-state tour, said the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Thursday.
Prince Charles and Camilla will travel also to Omani capital of Muscat as well as Bahrain’s Manama as part of their six-day swing through the region.
It will be the eighth time Prince Charles is visiting the UAE since his first tour in 1989 and the second time that both Prince Charles and Camilla are visiting.
The couple last visited the UAE together in February 2007 as part of a 10-day tour of five Gulf countries and explored areas of Dubai such as historic Bastakiya along the Dubai Creek under heavy security.
In a statement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK, officials said the royal couple will have a full slate of engagements in the UAE.
“Their Royal Highnesses’ visit to the region, which is at the request of the British Government, will promote the UK’s partnership in the region in key areas such as religious tolerance, supporting women in leadership, creating youth opportunities, preserving cultural heritage and wildlife conservation,” the FCO said.
During the visit, the couple will visit the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque to promote religious tolerance in a multi-faith event to be hosted by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance.
Prince Charles is scheduled to tour Bu Tinah archipelago, a Unesco-recognised site roughly 150 kilometres from the city of Abu Dhabi, which serves as a protected sanctuary to endangered species such as the dugong and hawksbill turtle.
An advocate for victim’s shelters, the Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, a non-profit shelter in the UAE for victims of domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking.
Ambassador to the UAE Philip Parham said: “We are delighted that their Royal Highnesses will make this exciting visit to three of the UAE’s seven emirates.
“The relationship between the UK and UAE is historic and modern, deep and broad, sound and creative. And the programme for this visit reflects that — with engagements ranging from a celebration of our historic ties at the Jahili Fort in Al Ain to a Youth Circle in Masdar City, where HRH The Prince of Wales is a Patron of the Masdar Institute for Science and Technology.”
Special year ahead
Dubai: Officials announced on Thursday that 2017 will be officially designated as the “UK-UAE Year of Culture”.
“The British Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Embassy and Emirati partners will be among those working together to create a diverse programme of activities which will take place in the UK and the UAE featuring events in arts, education, society, sport, science and trade,” said the FCO.
“The aim of the Year of Culture is to strengthen the existing relationship between the UK and UAE. The Prince of Wales, who is the British Patron of the UK-UAE 2017 Year of Culture, and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend an event at the historic Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain to launch the Year of Culture.”
