UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa in first visit to the UAE

The Minister will meet His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, to build upon the recent UK-UAE Strategic Dialogue in London last month, engage on shared priorities ahead of COP28, and to discuss cooperation on shared regional security issues including Iran and Syria.

Lord Ahmad will also visit the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi which houses the St Francis Church, Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, as part of his longstanding work on freedom of religion and belief.

Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Lord Ahmad said:

I am delighted to be in the UAE – my first visit to the country as Minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa – to strengthen the UK and UAE’s partnership.

I look forward to meeting with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to build upon our shared priorities, including the recent inaugural UK-UAE Strategic Dialogue, the ambitious Partnership of the Future, COP28 and regional issues.

The UAE has a crucial role to play on the world stage – including as a key partner for the UK through its membership of the UN Security Council and as hosts of COP28 later this year. It is vital that we continue to build momentum and strengthen collaboration in important areas including education, climate and development, life sciences and tackling illicit finance.

I also look forward to visiting the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. The interfaith complex, which houses the Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St Francis Church and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, is a reminder that we must never be complacent on protecting freedom of religion and belief.