Live updates: follow the latest news on Prince William's visit to the UAE
Prince William's visit to Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday will be a highlight of his first official trip to the Emirates.
But the busy day of engagements for the Duke of Cambridge will also take him to Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali Port.
The timetable is subject to change, but here are the main parts of what is set to be a milestone visit:
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, entertain Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, on board the Royal Yacht Britannia during a state visit to the Gulf in February 1979. Getty -
The Queen is presented with gifts, including a solid gold sculpture of a camel and its calf from Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, Ruler of Dubai, during her Gulf visit in February 1979. Getty -
The Queen and her husband enjoy a tour of Abu Dhabi in February 1979. Getty -
Diana, Princess of Wales, watches camel racing in Dubai in March 1989, during a tour of the Gulf states with her husband, the heir to the British throne Prince Charles. Getty -
The princess chats with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at a reception at the British Consulate in Dubai during the 1989 visit. The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai was then the emirate's Crown Prince. Getty -
The Prince and Princess of Wales at a camel race near Al Ain during the March 1989 visit. Getty -
The Prince And Princess Of Wales enjoy a desert picnic in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Britain's Prince Edward speaks with Emirates airline founder Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum during a visit to Dubai in March 1997. Reuters -
Prince Charles waves from the cockpit of a Eurofighter jet at the Dubai Air Show in November 1999. AFP -
Prince Charles meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in Dubai in 1999, when the Ruler was Crown Prince of Dubai. Wam -
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pay their respects at the tomb of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi in February 2007. Reuters -
Prince Charles admires the mosque's ornate pillars. Reuters -
Prince Charles meets students of the British School in Abu Dhabi in February 2007. Wam -
The Duchess of Cornwall talks to Emirati women in Dubai's historical district of Bastakiah in February 2007. AFP -
President Sheikh Khalifa and Prince Charles meet in Abu Dhabi in February 2007. Wam -
Britain's Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, left, at a dinner in Dubai in October 2013 to raise money for their Sentable charity for vulnerable children in the southern African kingdom. AFP -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, welcomes Prince Charles to the UAE in November 2016. Wam -
Prince Charles visits Bu Tinah island in the waters of Abu Dhabi during his 2016 visit. Getty -
Prince Charles with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, in the offices of Expo 2020 Dubai in November 2016. Getty -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, receives Prince Charles in Abu Dhabi in February 2014. Wam -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, meets Prince Charles in February 2014. Wam
Jubail Mangrove Park
Prince William will travel south to visit some of Abu Dhabi’s famed mangroves at the Jubail Mangrove Park.
The Duke of Cambridge will learn more about the UAE’s efforts to protect regional flora and fauna from human and environmental challenges.
The park opened in 2020 to raise awareness about Abu Dhabi's mangroves, while also seeking to protect the natural habitat.
An area of a million square metres includes a boardwalk that allows visitors to enjoy views of the mangroves and local birds, fish and crustaceans.
Visit to Jebel Ali Port
Prince William will also visit Jebel Ali Port to learn more about efforts in the region to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
United for Wildlife, established by Prince William in 2014, has been working in the region to help public-private partnerships in the UAE achieve this. DP World, the operator of Jebel Ali Port and many ports around the world, is a key United for Wildlife task force member. The company supports efforts to raise awareness of and action on the illegal trade.
During the visit, Prince William will be shown the scale of operations at the Middle East’s largest port and watch a demonstration of cargo being unloaded from container ships by crane, scanned for suspicious items and inspected by customs officers.
Visit to Expo 2020 Dubai
Prince William will tour the Expo 2020 Dubai site to cap off the day. He is expected to meet Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the site.
The Duke of Cambridge will visit Al Wasl Dome, the centrepiece of the site, to watch a performance celebrating the UK as the country celebrates its "national day". He will also visit other pavilions.
He will highlight the Earthshot Prize, annual awards he created to reward people trying to save the planet; champion UK sport and talent; and meet UK sportspeople and Commonwealth representatives as he takes part in the “Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay”, which will be making its way around the Expo site to various Commonwealth Pavilions.
UK 'national day' at Expo 2020 Dubai - in pictures
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The Coldstream Guards parade to mark UK 'national day 'at Expo 2020 Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Commonwealth Games baton makes an appearance at the world's fair. -
Flags outside the UK pavilion to mark 'national day'. -
The flag-raising ceremony in Dubai. -
Nadine Dorries, UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, at the flag-raising ceremony. -
The Coldstream Guards perform. -
Flags are waved by the crowd. -
Flags are handed out before a parade to mark UK 'national day'. -
The Coldstream Guards band on parade. -
Nadine Dorries gives a speech. -
Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, addresses the audience at the UK 'national day' ceremony. -
The Scott Wood band perform. -
The Scott Wood band perform. -
Box tail soup perform with their giant immersive puppets. -
Paul Tinto performs ‘To a mouse’ by Robert Burns. -
Box tail soup perform with their giant immersive puppets. -
The Scott Wood band perform at the UK pavilion.
