Coronavirus: British Middle East minister praises UAE's help tackling pandemic

Hundreds of British tourists who were in the UAE arrived home on Sunday on a flight organised by the UK embassy

• 

  General view of the empty Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA

• 

  View of an empty underground staircase at Piccadilly Circus in London, Britain. EPA

• 

  Large liquid oxygen tanks are seen installed at the rear of the Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber set up at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate, northern England to help with the new coronavirus covid-19 outbreak. AFP

• 

  Pedestrians, wearing protective masks, walk past a street art mural, depicting "Mass Hysteria" related to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg

• 

  Lights are seen inside residential properties in the Barbican Estate in London, England. Getty Images

• 

  A journalist is seen outside of the St Thomas' Hospital after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise. London, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  General view of 10 Downing Street after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into the intensive care unit in hospital on Monday evening, after his coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms worsened and he has asked Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab to deputise, in London, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  Signage to the entrance of the new NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital has been installed, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  A man wears a protective face mask on Westminster Bridge, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  An electronic ad thanking the heroes of the moment is seen on the streets of Manchester, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Manchester, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  A sign on a fence on a popular costal walk, tells people to stay at home as it gives the number of deaths to date on April 06, 2020 in Penarth, Wales. Getty Images

• 

  A woman passes with a stroller a banner showing support for the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS

• 

  A food delivery courier carrying a Deliveroo, operated by Roofoods Ltd., backpack stands near a message thanking Britain's National Health Service in Birmingham, U.K. Bloomberg

• 

  A closed down traditional fish and chips van parked by the river Thames in London, Britain. EPA

• 

  A bus driver wearing a face mask is seen, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain. REUTERS

• 

  Rylan (12) playing football with his uncle Aaron, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Belfast, Northern Ireland. REUTERS

Britain’s Minister for the Middle East has praised the country’s partnership with the UAE in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

James Cleverly hailed the role of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, owner of London’s ExCel conference centre, which has been turned into a coronavirus hospital for up to 4,000 patients.

“The UK and UAE have come together to tackle the global challenges posed by coronavirus," Mr Cleverly said.

"ADNEC Group offering the ExCeL London free of charge for the crucial Nightingale London hospital shows the strength of our friendship."

Hundreds of British tourists who were in the UAE arrived home on Sunday on a flight organised by the British embassy.

The 345 passengers boarded the 9.40am Emirates EK2545 flight from Dubai International Airport.

The "self-standing flight” was organised with the help of the UAE government and Dubai Airports to get stranded Brits home as quickly as possible.

And two planes chartered by UAE authorities will bring 80 Emirati nationals home from the UK on April 5 and 7. The first plane landed in the UAE on Sunday.

Mr Cleverly said that getting Britons home was the government's top priority.

"Working with the UAE and @emirates, we helped 345 passengers get home from Dubai yesterday," he said.

"I thanked my counterpart @AnwarGargash this morning for his efforts, including Saturday's transit agreement."