Global Arab Network | Royal Visit reaffirming Friendship Treaty: UAE, UK sign nuclear agreement

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Royal Visit reaffirming Friendship Treaty: UAE, UK sign nuclear agreement

Thursday, 25 November 2010 10:53

UAE (Dubai) – UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and British Foreign Secretary have signed a formal declaration reaffirming the 1971 UK-UAE Friendship Treaty and a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

The 2010 Abu Dhabi Declaration, reaffirming the 1971 Treaty of Friendship was signed to affirm that the UAE and the UK consult, in times of need, on matters of mutual interest and promote scientific, educational and cultural cooperation and recognize close and outstanding trade relations.

The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom also signed a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

H.H Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom William Hague have signed the agreement at a ceremony at the Emirates Palace hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Abdullah and Hague have also signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on consular matters and on mutual exemption of visa for holders of diplomatic or private passports.

The signing of the nuclear agreement and the MoUs is part of efforts to further promote the long-standing cooperation between the UAE and the UK.

These agreements reflect further strengthening of the long-standing cooperation between the UK and the UAE and follow an increase in high level engagements. In October 2010, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with UK Prime Minister David Cameron in London. Mr Cameron visited the UAE in June on one of his first overseas visits after taking office.

The celebrations included the recital of 'partnership poems' in English and Arabic by the winners of a British Council-Emirates Writers Union poetry competition, a performance of a specially commissioned dance created by international artist Patricia Millns, and the playing of a new fanfare, 'The Falcon and the Lion' by composer Joanna Marsh. The event supported musically by the British School Al Khubairat orchestra.

During the event, The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke of York met representatives of British and Emirati partnerships across a wide range of sectors, including defence and security, energy and business
Further information

The event celebrating UK – UAE partnership formed part of the State visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to the UAE and Oman.

The 2010 Abu Dhabi Declaration

The 1971 UK-UAE Friendship Treaty, signed in Dubai on 2 December, recorded UK-UAE determination that relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. It confirmed that the UK and the UAE would consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; encouraged educational, scientific and cultural cooperation; and recognised close relations in the field of commerce.

The 2010 Abu Dhabi Declaration, reaffirming the 1971 Treaty of Friendship, celebrates strong cooperation between the UK and the UAE in areas such as defence and security, energy, trade, education and culture, and records a determination to build ever closer relations to the mutual benefit of the two nations.

Exemplifying the strength of current cooperation, foreign ministers also signed agreements on civil nuclear cooperation, on consular issues and on visas.

UK-UAE ties

UK – UAE ties are strong, examples include:

More than one million Britons visit the UAE every year and around 100,000 live here.

Thousands of Emiratis come to the UK as tourists and students or to do business.

The UAE remains Britain’s largest export market in the Middle East and our 13th largest in the world.

The UAE is a key source of foreign direct investment into Britain. The country invests in iconic projects and businesses such as the London Gateway that will be one of Europe’s largest port and logistics complexes; and the London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

UK oil companies BP and Shell have worked with Abu Dhabi for more than 70 years and Rolls-Royce turbines have powered Abu Dhabi oil production since 1973.

UK and UAE armed forces have trained together for years and operate alongside one another in Afghanistan.

UK expertise contributed to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Dubai Metro and the UAE’s Expo Pavilion in Shanghai.

The British Museum is partnering with the Sheikh Zayed National Museum. British archaeologists continue to work with Emiratis to uncover the UAE’s past.

Many UK universities are establishing a presence here.

Healthcare institutions such as the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and Moorfields Eye Clinic are now both established in the UAE and in Britain. (WAM, FCO, GAN)

Global Arab Network

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