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From climate change and AI regulation to diplomatic initiatives tackling hunger, the UAE-UK partnership has helped to make a positive global impact for many decades - as well as driving prosperity for both nations.
And now a new UAE All Party Parliamentary Group in the UK, set up by Oliver Dowden, former Deputy Prime Minister, is looking to “foster collaboration and understanding” between the two nations, with a focus on trade and investment, technology and innovation, and climate and sustainability.
The new group brings together Parliamentarians with diverse areas of expertise – from former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett, who recognises the significance of the security partnership, to Samantha Niblett, who has a razor-sharp focus on the value of AI. A wider pool of policymakers in the UK is key to deepening the understanding of the UAE-UK relationship.
For Dowden, the two nations shouldn’t be complacent in their relationship. “The UK shouldn’t assume that historic ties and existing strength automatically continue”, he says, “We need to work together on this exciting next chapter.”
Beyond deepening parliamentary understanding between countries, Dowden has ambitions to take the nations’ “strong investment partnership” even further, with AI a standout area for deeper collaboration.
There are also possibilities for developing dual listing, passporting frameworks, innovation corridors and venture capital match funding in the financial services sectors.
As Dowden says, “The world is not standing still – there are plenty more opportunities. It’s time to take [our relationship] to the next level.”
