Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee: UAE celebrates lifetime of friendship with UK

Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee: UAE celebrates lifetime of friendship with UK

British monarch has witnessed the entirety of the Emirates' history during her inspiring tenure

It was a British royal yacht, HMY Britannia that docked at the port with Queen Elizabeth II onboard forty-three years ago on February 26,1979.

Published: Thu 2 Jun 2022, 3:45 PM

Since its foundation in 1971, the United Kingdom has been a trusted friend of the UAE. In recent years, the UAE has aimed to be a source of stability, economic growth and innovation in the region, and the UK has been a valued partner in pursuing this goal.

Today, both countries share a thriving bilateral relationship covering economic, strategic and cultural interests. However, the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II built the foundation for the lifelong friendship, starting with her first state visit in 1979.

First state visit in 1979

In 1979, the village of Jebel Ali was a meagre accommodation for port workers, and it had a population of 300 people.

A close friend of the UAE, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has witnessed the entirety of the Emirates' history during her inspiring tenure. The most travelled monarch in the world, Queen Elizabeth has visited the UAE twice – in 1979 and in 2010.

Greeted at the dockside by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al