UAE and UK ministers meet to discuss relations

UAE Minister of State Ahmed Al Sayegh held talks with James Cleverly, the UK's minister for Middle East and North Africa, on Wednesday.

They discussed relations between the UAE and UK and ways to enhance co-operation in fields of mutual interest – including sustainable finance, anti-money laundering and investment, according to Wam.

Mr Al Sayegh spoke about the significant efforts the UAE has made to strengthen frameworks to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism frameworks, particularly since the establishment of the Executive Office to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

He said the UAE-UK partnership in this field helped to counter financial crime through cross-border co-operation and public-private sector co-ordination.

Both sides expressed their keenness to explore future partnerships to boost ties in key areas.

The UAE and the UK enjoy strategic ties stretching back several decades.

The nations have worked closely together during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In June of last year, the UAE sent a plane carrying over six tonnes of medical supplies to the UK to bolster efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

The shipment arrived at Heathrow Airport on a special chartered flight with 6.6 tonnes of melt blown fabric to make surgical face masks.

Earlier this week, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, held talks with Mr Cleverly in Abu Dhabi.

They reviewed regional and international issues, including the fight against Covid-19, during the meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Mansour Abdullah Khalfan Belhoul, the UAE ambassador to the UK, was also in attendance.

Sheikh Abdullah travelled to London in September to meet Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Secretary.

Mr Cleverly also took part in those talks.