As millions mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II here in the UK and across the world, it’s fitting to pause and reflect on how Her Majesty meant many things to many people.
For Emiratis, she represented the very best of British identity and character. For that reason, many of us, myself included, felt a deep sense of affection towards her. The UK is an important friend and ally, and the queen served as monarch for the entire history of our country. So today we feel profound sadness, as well as gratitude.
Our nation joins the UK in mourning the passing of an incredibly beloved monarch. Our thoughts are, of course, with the British royal family, and with British and Commonwealth citizens around the world.
The queen’s passing is also a moment for personal reflection. As ambassador to the UK, I was fortunate to meet the queen on several occasions. I will cherish the memories of the times I spent in her company. On every occasion I found her to be warm, thoughtful, wise and kind.
I have been struck, reading the many tributes paid to her in recent days, how many other people experienced the same. For someone to bear so much responsibility for so long and still to inspire such a reaction in those who met her is incredible.
But beyond these personal memories, the passing of the monarch also presents an opportunity to reflect on the strength of the relationship between our two nations.
The queen was a close friend to the UAE and for that we will always be grateful.
Her first visit to our young nation, in 1979, saw her welcomed by our Founding Father, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This visit, in the years after the relationship between the Gulf and the UK had changed so significantly, did much to establish a friendship between us and set a positive course for the decades ahead.
I remember well her second visit, in 2010, and in particular the iconic images of her visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Her presence there was doubly significant, as in her capacity as Supreme Governor of the Church of England she was the first leader of another religion to visit the mosque. This visit did much to underline to the world the shared values of dialogue and tolerance that our two nations hold.
When I was appointed ambassador some years later, the memory of these visits, and the pride I felt in the strength of our relationship with the UK, served as an inspiration. In the decades since that first visit in 1979, we have found many opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
We have deepened our ties and strengthened our friendship. Working with her majesty’s government we have signed various impactful initiatives and agreements, most recently the Partnership for the Future and the Sovereign Investment Partnership, which will benefit a wide variety of sectors from energy and infrastructure, to education and cultural development, in both our nations. Our trade ties will be further intensified through the GCC-UK Free Trade Agreement, for which negotiations have started.
As monarch, Queen Elizabeth II presided over all these major milestones, and the UAE is grateful for the direction she so skilfully set.
We can look back on the Elizabethan era with fondness and pride, and we can look forward with confidence that more opportunities lie ahead.
Leaders inevitably change, but leadership can be constant, built on the strong foundations laid by predecessors.
In the United Kingdom, a new Carolean era has begun under King Charles III where the UK will continue to thrive as a modern, multicultural and multi-faith society.
In the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed President of the UAE earlier this year following the passing of our former President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed will ensure that the UAE too will continue to flourish as a diverse, tolerant society.
Having experienced the profound sadness that overwhelmed our nation when H.H. Sheikh Khalifa passed, we very much empathise with the British people at this difficult time. It is in these momentous and unforeseen developments, that we see another, unexpected parallel between our nations’ histories and paths forward.
From my perspective, I am confident that under the leadership of King Charles III and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed, the friendship and partnership between the UAE and the UK will continue to thrive – a true testament to the legacies of Queen Elizabeth II and our former President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The UK mourns Queen Elizabeth II - in pictures
-
A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -
Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -
A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -
Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -
A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -
Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -
Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -
Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -
A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -
Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -
Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -
An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -
Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -
A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -
A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -
A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -
Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -
People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -
Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -
A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -
Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -
Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -
The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -
Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -
A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -
People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
