From political engagement and economic cooperation to cultural exchange and people-to-people ties, 2025 marked another year of deepening collaboration in the UAE-UK relationship.
Economic foundations remained strong. In the 12 months to Q2 2025, bilateral trade reached £24.8 billion. The UAE-UK Sovereign Investment Partnership also continued to deliver real-world impact, having already supported 50,000 jobs, with projections of a further 280,000 by 2030. Building on the shared legacy of COP28, UAE and UK entities advanced joint renewable energy initiatives, including the completion of Masdar’s first UK battery storage facility in Stockport and the announcement of new projects in Cardiff and Chesterfield.
In March, His Excellency Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, hosted an interfaith iftar in London. Marking the holy month of Ramadan, the iftar brought together political, religious and business leaders, including Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary ofState for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as Guest of Honour.
The evening reflected the UAE’s longstanding commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and community. Parliamentary engagement was further strengthened in 2025 through the work of the UAE-UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), chaired by Oliver Dowden, formerDeputy Prime Minister. The group brings together UK parliamentarians to promote understanding and cooperation across areas including trade and investment, technology and innovation, and climate and sustainability.
Security cooperation also deepened when the UK's Minister of State for Security, DanJarvis MP, hosted a UAE delegation led by His Excellency Hamid Al Zaabi, Secretary General of the UAE’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee. The two-day visit focused on advancing bilateral efforts in the global fight against illicit finance and underscored the shared commitment of both countries in safeguarding the international financial system.
In October, economic ties were further reinforced when the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development led a high-level delegation of economic entities to London. The visit brought together hundreds of senior UK and international business leaders, investors and policymakers to explore opportunities across Abu Dhabi’s high-growth sectors.
Connectivity between the two countries also continued to expand. In 2025, Emirates announced an expansion of its London Heathrow schedule to 48 weekly flights, with further growth across its London gateways set to take total services to 90 weekly flights by early 2026.
The year concluded with the UAE Embassy in London marking the UAE’s 54th National Day at the iconic Raffles London at The Old War Office. Welcoming over 500 guests from the UK, UAE and around the world, the celebration underscored the depth of connections between the two countries.
Together, these moments provide a strong platform as the UAE-UK relationship looks ahead to 2026.
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