‘Beacon of selfless leadership’: UAE residents pay respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II

Some residents were included in her birthday honours lists in years gone by

A well-wisher kisses the hand of King Charles III outside Buckingham Palace after the death on Thursday of Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles, who spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role, on Friday planned to meet the prime minister and address a nation grieving the only British monarch most of the world had known. He takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for his country and the monarchy itself. AP

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla arriving at Buckingham Palace, London, after travelling from Balmoral following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. PA

King Charles and the queen consort outside Buckingham Palace. PA

King Charles and the queen consort view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace, London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday. PA

King Charles greets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace. AP

King Charles and the queen consort read messages left by mourners at Buckingham Palace in London. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability through much of a turbulent century, died on Thursday, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. AP

King Charles greets well-wishers at Buckingham Palace after the death on Thursday of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. AP

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA

Outside Buckingham Palace on the first day of public mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The queen's death at the age of 96 marks the start of a tumultuous 10 days for the UK in which a queen is buried, a nation will mourn its longest-reigning monarch, and a new king is proclaimed. Bloomberg

King Charles during a walkabout to view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. PA

King Charles outside Buckingham Palace on Friday. AP

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla surrounded by crowds of well-wishers in London. Reuters

The car carrying King Charles and the queen consort arrives at Buckingham Palace with the Union Flag at half mast. Getty Images

People gather at the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace on Thursday night after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

People gather at the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA

Mourners gather outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA

Tributes and candles left outside Buckingham Palace in London after the queen's death was announced. PA

Police officers stand among floral tributes left outside Buckingham Palace. PA

A member of the royal household staff posts a notice on the gates of Buckingham Palace announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth. AFP

Royal follower John Loughrey, wearing a Union Jack hat, photographs the official announcement of the queen's death. EPA

Mourners outside Buckingham Palace. Reuters

A man with a Union flag umbrella shelters from the rain near the Queen Victoria Memorial. AFP

Mourners on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. PA

The crowds outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA

Mourners at the vigil outside Buckingham Palace. PA

Mourners at the vigil outside Buckingham Palace. PA

Londoners walk down The Mall that leads to Buckingham Palace on Thursday night. PA

Taxis lined up along The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London after the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth. PA

The advertising screens in Piccadilly Circus in London mark the death of the queen. Getty

An image of Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on The BT Tower in London. Getty

A bus stop on Tottenham Court road in London displays an image of the queen. Getty

Mourners gather outside Windsor Castle, Berkshire. PA

Flowers are left under the Queen Victoria statue outside Windsor Castle. PA

Candles and flowers form a makeshift memorial at the Queen Victoria statue outside Windsor Castle. PA

People lay floral tributes outside Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on Thursday night. EPA

People lay floral tributes outside Balmoral Castle, Scotland, Britain, 08 September 2022. EPA

People pay their respects at the gate of Sandringham House in Norfolk. PA

People pay their respects at the gate of Sandringham House in Norfolk. PA

Queen Elizabeth II dies - follow the latest news as the world mourns

The British community in the UAE and people who have close ties to the UK have paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 on Thursday.

They fondly remembered the monarch, who served in the role for seven decades, from 1952 to 2022.

Patrick Moody, British Ambassador to the UAE, said the queen was "our greatest diplomat".

“It was with profound sorrow that we all learnt of the death of Her Majesty the queen. This is a massive loss for the UK and those in the UAE and across the world who admired her as much as I did," he said.

"I would like to thank His Highness, the President of the UAE and His Highness the Prime Minister for their kind words, and to thank all citizens and residents of the UAE for their support at this difficult time."

Some residents who were included in her birthday honours lists in years gone by also paid their respects to the queen.

Mark Leppard, headmaster at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education in 2015.

“I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.

“She has been the most wonderful, dedicated monarch and public servant, one I am hugely proud of.

“BSAK was honoured to host a visit by The Queen in 1979, and in 2010 the school choir performed a music recital in her presence when she visited Abu Dhabi.”

Speaking of his MBE, Mr Leppard said it was one of the proudest moments of his life.

“She will be sadly missed by not only Great Britain, but also by so many across the entire globe,” he said.

“She has been a beacon of selfless leadership. My thoughts and prayers go to her family at this sad time.”

Richard Oliver, a British businessman and former UAE resident, also paid homage to the history-making monarch.

During his time in the Emirates, he helped to build commercial and community links between his home country and the UAE, which led to him being conferred the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) several years ago.

“This has been a truly sad day for our country. I last met her majesty the queen in 2019 when I received the OBE from her at Windsor Castle,” he said.

“She was completely on message. She told me a horse-racing anecdote from Dubai and recalled the state visit from [the late] Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.

“She was 93, at work, on duty and an inspiration to us all.”

Levi Duchman, the first resident chief rabbi in the UAE, also sent out a tweet in memory of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

“My late uncle Rabbi Nachman Sudak, the Rebbes head Shliach to England, received an award from her majesty the queen,” he said.

“Queen Elizabeth II recognised his lifetime of achievement on behalf of Jews and non-Jews by conferring the status of Order of the British Empire.”

Michael John Reed, 36, a musician in Dubai said: "Where do you start with a woman who has reigned for 70 years?

"A woman who embodied dignity and grace, guided, not just Great Britain but the entire commonwealth through trial and turmoil of 7 decades, watched and adapted as the world changed and modernised around her and her establishment.

"She lived her life for Great Britain, served a nation with everything she had. Great Britain meant the world to her, and she meant the world to us! RIP your Majesty."

On Friday, the UK embassy in the UAE said that condolence messages can be left online at https://royal.uk or a QR code can be scanned to pay tributes.