Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the Union: Britain is keen to deepen the strategic partnership with the UAE

Wael Badran, Ayham Al Numairi (Abu Dhabi)

Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Oliver Dowden, stressed his country's keenness to strengthen relations with the UAE, pointing out that the “partnership for the future” between the two countries is achieving great success and prosperity.
Doden explained, in an exclusive interview with Al-Ittihad, that implementing the “electronic travel authorization” system with the UAE is a very important step, and a major and important development that will further deepen relations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that, starting from February 1, an application can be submitted to obtain an electronic travel permit, according to a new program recently launched by the United Kingdom, with visits to the Kingdom starting from February 22.
Citizens of the country traveling to the United Kingdom can obtain an electronic travel permit for two years within a maximum of three working days, with the ability to travel to the Kingdom for an unlimited number of visits during this period, and for a period of stay not exceeding 6 months per visit.
Dowden said: “In fact, this is a very important step in the relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom, and we know the extent of the British desire and interest in visiting the Emirates, as well as the interest of the Emirati people in visiting the United Kingdom. Therefore, implementing the electronic travel permit system makes it easier. Those wishing to travel can now register easily and for a small fee. Once registered, they can travel any number of times for two years.”
The British Deputy Prime Minister added: “The relations between the Emirates and Britain go back many decades, and have many dimensions, at all levels, especially official and governmental, and the meetings I held here in the Emirates showed me the depth of these relations, and touched on various topics, Among them are defense and security, and of course trade and prosperity.”
Doden, who made a visit to the Emirates last week, continued: “These extended relations have greatly reflected positively on both countries over the years, and I look forward, through my visit to the Emirates, to strengthening this agenda that includes prosperity and security for both countries.”
In his dialogue with Al-Ittihad, he highlighted the “Partnership for the Future” signed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, saying: “It is a tremendously fruitful partnership.” ».

Investments
He explained that, if we look at the successes achieved during that period, we witnessed investments worth more than ten billion pounds sterling (about 47 billion dirhams) between the two countries, and trade also flourished, as the volume of trade exchange reached more than 25 billion pounds sterling (about 117 billion pounds). dirham).
He expressed his confidence in the possibility of building on these strong foundations and moving forward to achieve more achievements.
He pointed to the high-level meeting held by the Minister of Economy of the UAE, His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, and Greg Hands, Minister of State for Trade Policy at the British Ministry of Business and Trade in London a few days ago, to discuss the development of the economic partnership, stressing the great importance of that meeting.
Dowden explained that the meetings he held during his visit to the country came as a continuation of this meeting, in his capacity as British Deputy Prime Minister, expressing his belief that there are many areas on which strategic relations and cooperation between the two countries can be built.
For example, the artificial intelligence sector, with the United Kingdom’s enormous strengths and thriving technology sector, in addition to the UAE’s huge technological capabilities and tremendous technological skills, can cooperate together in this field, according to Dowden.
Regarding the relations between the two countries in the field of defense, he said: “Relations in the field of defense have always been a very important part of our defense relations, especially here in the Middle East,” adding: “This was the focus of the meeting of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.” The President, may God protect him, and the British Secretary of State for Defense, Grant Shapps, at the end of last year, to discuss deepening and strengthening defense relations, and we look forward to achieving this.
He explained that the renewable energy sector is also one of the areas in which cooperation can be continued, as well as with regard to the financial services sector.
He stressed his keenness to continue developing relations and enhancing cooperation in such areas, based on confidence in the ability to achieve further achievements, which will reflect on both countries.
He expressed his aspiration to increase the volume of investments between the two countries, especially in the sectors that the two countries' economies will depend on in the future, such as artificial intelligence, biosciences, renewable energy, and other energy sources.

Renewable energy
The British Deputy Prime Minister continued, in his interview with the Union: “By cooperating together, we can increase investment flows and strengthen the economies of both countries.”
He stated that the UAE is a large source of energy, and it is important for the United Kingdom, as is the case for the UAE, to transition to renewable energy, within the framework of our climate commitments, gradually, as confirmed by the Emirati leadership of the COP28 conference.