Queen Elizabeth II to visit this autumn to boost UAE-UK trade links

Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is make her first visit to the United Arab Emirates in 31 years this autumn. She is pictured above receiving the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum last autumn. They share a passion for horse racing.

Yesterday Buckingham Palace issued a brief statement accepting an invitation from the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. Her Majesty will then fly on to Oman to join the celebrations marking Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s 40 year reign. The exact dates are not being made available for security reasons.

Empire tradition

Britain has traditionally held strong links with the UAE which was a British Protectorate prior to independence in 1971. British expatriates continue to live there in large numbers, and have played a critical part in the highly successful economic development of the emirates.

But over the past decade trade with the UK has declined and China has emerged as the UAE’s top trading partner. New UK Prime Minister David Cameron made a stop over in June on his way back from Afghanistan, confirming the importance attached to reviving this trade.

Last week in a key policy statement the incoming Foreign Secretary William Hague announced a ‘diplomatic task force’ to spearhead ‘efforts to elevate links with the Gulf’. Her Majesty the Queen’s visit is clearly an important part of raising the national profile.

Indeed, there is no greater honour than a visit from the long-serving British monarch. There will doubtless be much pomp and circumstance to mark the occasion.

Resurgent UK competitiveness

However, behind the scenes it is hard to know whether any real progress can be made in reversing the trade flows that have moved against the UK in recent years. The UAE and Oman remain anglophile nations. But Chinese goods have become so competitive.

That might of course be about to change with inflation now rampant in China and workers on strike for higher salaries. The UK has also devalued its currency agains the dollar and therefore the UAE dirham, making British products more competitive against dollar-linked Chinese goods.

The cultural links with the UK are also strong. The UAE is the English-speaking business hub of the Middle East, and the new courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre have their law written in English, although the official language of the country is Arabic. Many UK citizens have also made the UAE their long-term home.

Certainly Her Majesty the Queen will get a tremendous welcome in the UAE and Oman.