Queen Elizabeth II this week became the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch, having surpassed the 63 years, seven months and two days record of Queen Victoria. This milestone has been cause for celebration in the UK and affectionate reflection here in the UAE.
The ties between the ruling families and the people of our two countries are very strong and deep. The Queen has visited the UAE twice, in 1979 and 2010. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, attended her diamond jubilee lunch in London in 2012. The following year, Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, visited her at Windsor Castle.
Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant in an rapidly changing world. When she came to the throne, the UAE did not exist, and the special relationship the UK now enjoys with the Emirates is, in great part, testimony to her steady influence.
