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From friendships with GCC royals to an curiosity in Islam, we discover the British monarch’s love of the area.
As King Charles III returns to the UAE to talk at COP28, we glance again at his particular relationship with the Center East.
King Charles has visited the area many occasions – whether or not it’s assembly royal households or carrying a keffiyeh, he clearly has a love for the Arab world. His present journey marks his first go to to the UAE since he was topped King.
King Charles is the longest-serving inheritor to the throne and was declared king following the loss of life of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. The sturdy relationship between the UK’s royal household and the Center East was solid by his mom. Not solely was she the primary member of the nation’s royal household to go to the area, however probably the most extensively travelled British monarch.
In complete, King Charles has made 12 official visits to Saudi Arabia, seven to Kuwait and the UAE, six official visits to Qatar, and 5 to Jordan. Right here’s a glance again on the particular relationship between King Charles and the Center East.
King Charles III’s curiosity in Islamic research and landscapes
King Charles has a eager curiosity in Islam. He’s a patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Research, and studied Arabic so he might learn the Quran.
He as soon as stated: “Islam can educate us right this moment a method of understanding and residing on the planet which Christianity itself is the poorer for having misplaced. On the coronary heart of Islam is its preservation of an integral view of the universe.”
King Charles loves to color and through the years he has drawn inspiration from the Center East. His art work consists of watercolours of Aqaba in Jordan, and Port of Suez, Wadi Arkam and Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.
King Charles’ tour with Diana, Princess of Wales
The then Prince Charles and Princess Diana undertook their first journey to the UAE in 1989. The nine-day tour of the Center East included visits to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The pair went on a appeal offensive, because the journey was meant to spice up commerce between Britain and the Center East.
Princess Diana was praised for her modest vogue when she stepped off the airplane in Abu Dhabi. Wearing a high-waisted blue pencil skirt, white jacket with blue lapels and a blue turban, she coated her hair in each a good and trendy method.
The couple met Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, at his majlis in Al Ain. The pair have been handled to a picnic at Ghabat Raqnah Oasis, then visited the camel races and British Consulate in Dubai.
The heat that King Charles had for the UAE’s leaders was obvious. When he met Sheikh Zayed, he joked: “After we come from Britain, all we’re on the lookout for is the solar.”
King Charles’ solo excursions
In 1999, King Charles made a seven-day solo go to to the Center East and visited Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Whereas within the UAE, he visited the Dubai Airshow, and even popped into the cockpit of a jet.
In 2013, he visited Saudi Arabia and toured Wadi Hanifa, and acquired a sneak preview of what we now know as Diriyah Gate. The world is taken into account the birthplace of modern-day Saudi, and supplied an perception for the monarch concerning the kingdom.
In 2014, King Charles visited the area together with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He was met by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
In 2015, King Charles visited the UAE briefly whereas on tour in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Whereas in Saudi Arabia, he visited AlUla with Prince Sultan bin Salman. The identical yr, when King Abdullah handed away, who he considered a private pal, he flew to Riyadh to pay his respects.
King Charles’ tour with Queen Consort, Camilla
King Charles and Queen Consort, Camilla visited the UAE collectively as a pair for the primary time in 2016. The three-day journey included a go to to Oman and Bahrain.
The pair visited Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The Duchess visited the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, and was photographed touchingly resting her hand on a hen whereas it was present process an operation.
Prince Charles then made his technique to Zabeel Palace, and met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The leaders mentioned cultural ties between the UK and UAE.
King Charles at COP28
King Charles III is legendary for his love of the surroundings, and he has been an advocate for natural farming and stopping local weather change. He’ll attend the COP28 Enterprise and Philanthropy Local weather Discussion board, which runs alongside the occasion. He can even converse at COP28 in Dubai on 1 December 2023 and is anticipated to share his imaginative and prescient for the longer term. He’s no stranger to sharing these views with world leaders, as he beforehand spoke at Glasgow’s COP26 in 2021 and COP21 in Paris in 2025.
Given the frequency of his visits and his love of the Center East, we’re positive it gained’t be lengthy till he returns.
GO: Observe @theroyalfamily for extra info.
The publish King Charles’ and the Center East: A glance again on the particular relationship appeared first on FACT Journal.
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