King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, and Prince William meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London in 2018. Getty Images
King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, and Prince William meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London in 2018. Getty Images
King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, and Prince William meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London in 2018. Getty Images
King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, and Prince William meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London in 2018. Getty Images

Saudi Crown Prince invited to UK


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has been invited to visit Britain this autumn to help cement a major trade deal with the Gulf, UK government sources have told The National.

Although the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman has not been officially announced, it was reported that a meeting with King Charles III would top the agenda. If he accepts the invitation, it would be his first visit in five years.

The Crown Prince would also hold high-level discussions with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the proposed post-Brexit free trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council.

Government sources said an invitation had been made but Downing Street was unable to officially confirm there had been an “invite or visit date confirmed”.

The two leaders held a lengthy telephone call on Thursday during which Mr Sunak told the Crown Prince that he “looked forward to meeting in person at the earliest opportunity”.

Mr Sunak looked forward to “personally deepening the long-standing ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia” as the kingdom experienced a “profound social and economic transformation under Vision 2030”, Downing Street said in statement.

During the conversation, the Prime Minister mentioned developing the two countries’ trade and investment relationship, “collaborating in new cutting-edge industries, and to strengthen our close co-operation on defence and security”.

The Prime Minister also reiterated Britain’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s security and regional stability, and praised the kingdom’s “constructive and positive leadership on Ukraine” following the recent talks in Jeddah.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of allies working together to end the bloodshed in Ukraine and support a just and lasting peace,” Downing Street said.

Queen Elizabeth II greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his 2018 visit to Britain. He has been invited to the UK for another visit later this year, sources have told The National. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his 2018 visit to Britain. He has been invited to the UK for another visit later this year, sources have told The National. Getty Images

Mr Sunak also “welcomed progress” on the conflict in Yemen, where Britain “will continue to back efforts to extend the ceasefire and alleviate the humanitarian crisis”.

Britain’s former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir William Patey, suggested the kingdom’s leadership in global politics was a key driver for the invitation.

“Saudi Arabia’s importance in the Gulf and in the world has increased in terms of its importance to Britain as a security partner, a partner in counterterrorism and in trade,” he told the BBC.

It is understood the British government wants to restore stronger political and diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia following controversy over the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Prince Mohammed has already been received in France.

Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, former prime minister Boris Johnson held talks with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh as oil prices surged.

While Prince Mohammed was invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September last year, another member of the Saudi royal family went instead.

The autumn invitation was widely reported in the British media, with The Times describing a potential visit as of “huge importance, overdue, intended to strengthen close defence links, likely to boost British exports to this vast market and underlining Britain’s long involvement in the Middle East”.

Saudi Arabia has increased its links to Britain in recent years, especially following its Public Investment Fund's purchase of Newcastle United in 2021.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Theresa May, UK prime minister at the time, at Downing Street in 2018. Getty Images
Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Theresa May, UK prime minister at the time, at Downing Street in 2018. Getty Images

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Profile of RentSher

Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE

Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi

Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE

Sector: Online rental marketplace

Size: 40 employees

Investment: $2 million

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000

Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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  • Flexible payment plans from developers
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Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat

Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press 

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

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How it works

A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank

Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night 

The charge is stored inside a battery

The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode

A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes 

This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode

When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again

The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge

No limit on how many times you can charge

 

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The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

Results

2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly

3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

Ferrari
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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO

Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.

Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

Updated: August 17, 2023, 2:21 PM`