King Charles III to host emir of Qatar on UK state visit
AFP | London
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com
Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday begins a two-day state visit to Britain hosted by King Charles III as the UK aims to seal a trade deal with the oilrich Gulf states.
The visit by the emir, 44, and his consort, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, will include a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and talks at Downing Street with the country’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The government, elected in July, is hoping to conclude a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s six nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Starmer’s government has staked its credibility on a pledge to grow the economy.
It says a GCC free trade deal could boost the UK economy by some £1.6 billion ($2 billion) and open up lucrative markets to British firms.
The Qatari couple, who arrived Monday at Stansted airport east of London, will be greeted by heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, at their Kensington Palace residence in west London.
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