Dubai: According to the British government, “the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will undertake official visits to the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman in November 2016”.
No specific date was given for the UAE visit later this year but in a statement on Tuesday, UK government officials said the visit is part of a three-state tour and continues the longstanding relationship between the Emirates and the British government.
“The tour will help to strengthen the United Kingdom’s warm bilateral relations with key partners in the region,” the statement read.
The visit will mark the eighth time Prince Charles has visited the UAE since his first tour of the UAE in 1989 and the second time that both Prince Charles and Camilla will visit.
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.
After arriving in a helicopter in the restored Dubai Creekside heritage area, the royal couple was treated to Arabic tea as they toured a setting at the Creekside showcasing traditional Arabic ware.
In February last year, Prince Charles was received by His Highness General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Last year, Shaikh Mohammad noted the historic relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom.
According to WAM news agency, Shaikh Mohammad and Prince Charles discussed the “outstanding friendship and relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom that are within the framework of their historic ties and strategic interests”.
Mohammad Mubarak Al Mazroui, Undersecretary of the Court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince; Philip Parham, British Ambassador to the UAE; and members of the delegation accompanying Prince Charles attended the meeting.
