The visit made by HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and his wife, HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, to the UAE, is a big step in improving relations between the two countries, said Sulaiman Hamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK).

In a statement today, Al Mazrouei applauded the "historic political, economic and cultural relations between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom."

He indicated that annual trade between the two countries accounted for ?12.6 billion, making the UAE the fourth largest market for the UK's exports outside the European Union.

He further said that over a million British tourists visit the UAE every year, which is also home to 120,000 British residents. He referred to the significant numbers of Emirati students studying in the UK and the growing numbers of Emirati visitors.

Al Mazrouei expressed his country’s appreciation for the UK's role in supporting regional and international issues of mutual interest.