Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the aims and objectives are of Government policy towards the UAE. [149079]

Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an important regional ally for the UK. We enjoy a relationship based on common interests in many areas, including trade and investment, education, culture, defence, and security. Our aim is to strengthen our engagement in these areas and support the government's foreign policy objectives of security, prosperity, and support for UK nationals overseas. One vehicle for doing this is the UK-UAE “Task Force” which I chair together with my UAE counterpart and which meets four times a year. The UAE is a key trading partner for the UK.

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