Sheikh Abdullah and Cooper reviewed avenues to enhance economic cooperation and partnership…reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of, held a substantive telephone conversation with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reaffirming the long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations and exploring ways to broaden cooperation across economic, diplomatic and regional fronts.
The call comes amid a period of deepening engagement between Abu Dhabi and London, with both sides signalling a mutual interest in further strengthening bilateral ties in trade, investment, security and technology, as well as coordination on pressing international issues such as peace and stability in the Middle East.
During the discussion, Sheikh Abdullah and Cooper reviewed avenues to enhance economic cooperation and partnership, highlighting the UAE and the UK’s ongoing efforts to expand commercial links. The two countries already enjoy a robust economic relationship: over 5,000 British businesses operate in the UAE, and bilateral trade and investment span diverse sectors including technology, energy and financial services.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international matters of shared concern. In recent months, both capitals have been active in diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and security across the Middle East. In July 2025, Keir Starmer and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed developments in the region, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the path toward a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The UAE and UK have also strengthened cooperation in financial security. In March 2025, senior officials from both countries met in Abu Dhabi to enhance collaboration to combat illicit financial flows and bolster regulatory frameworks to address financial crimes such as money laundering and fraud.
This latest engagement builds on a broader institutional framework for bilateral cooperation established in 2021 with the UK–UAE “Partnership for the Future”. Under the partnership, both sides agreed to expand collaboration in areas including trade, technology, education, clean energy, security and culture, and to co-chair an annual Strategic Dialogue to review progress and set shared priorities.
The UK–UAE relationship has evolved significantly over recent years, driven by shared interests in sustainable prosperity, innovation and global security. The UAE has become a major destination for British investment and trade, while the UK remains the UAE’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Strategic collaboration has also included joint efforts to support research and development, knowledge exchange and partnerships in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and green technologies.
Both officials stressed the importance of multilateral engagement and constructive dialogue in addressing complex global challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and climate change. Their discussion underscores the depth of diplomatic communication between Abu Dhabi and London and reflects the high level of mutual trust that continues to characterise relations.
