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The Queen is making her first visit to the emirate states for over 30 years
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The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Abu Dhabi for a five-day state visit to the Gulf.
The monarch is in the region as part of government moves to renew the UK's relationship with the Gulf Arab states.
The Queen last visited the UAE in 1979 when she was a guest of the founding father and former president of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed.
The Duke of York, is also on the royal visit, and was already in the UAE to greet his mother on arrival.
Speaking to reporters before the Queen's plane touched down, Prince Andrew praised his nephew Prince William's fiancee Kate Middleton and said next April's royal wedding would be "absolutely fantastic".
The duke said: "I think this is the most wonderful piece of news that the UK has had for a long time.
"I've been away for a couple of days now so I'm not fully up to speed with what's going on but I'm aware that the UK has taken Kate to their heart. I think that's absolutely wonderful news.
"I understand [the wedding is] going to take place over a bank holiday weekend so it's another excuse for a good party."
The Queen was also greeted by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and several UAE ministers.
The UAE is a collection of seven emirates that united in 1971 after gaining full independence from the UK.
The Duke of York said: "I think you have to look back to the fact this is a long-standing relationship between the UAE and the United Kingdom which reaches back over 40 years when the UAE was a protectorate.
"A lot of work has gone on in the intervening period. Since the new [UK] government came in there's been an increased level of concern for this particular region in terms of investment, in terms of business opportunities.
"This has been reciprocated by the UAE and other countries in the region."
The Queen's trip includes a two-day state visit to neighbouring Oman.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Queen is making her first visit to the emirate states for over 30 years Related stories
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Abu Dhabi for a five-day state visit to the Gulf.
The monarch is in the region as part of government moves to renew the UK's relationship with the Gulf Arab states.
The Queen last visited the UAE in 1979 when she was a guest of the founding father and former president of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed.
The Duke of York, is also on the royal visit, and was already in the UAE to greet his mother on arrival.
Speaking to reporters before the Queen's plane touched down, Prince Andrew praised his nephew Prince William's fiancee Kate Middleton and said next April's royal wedding would be "absolutely fantastic".
The duke said: "I think this is the most wonderful piece of news that the UK has had for a long time.
"I've been away for a couple of days now so I'm not fully up to speed with what's going on but I'm aware that the UK has taken Kate to their heart. I think that's absolutely wonderful news.
"I understand [the wedding is] going to take place over a bank holiday weekend so it's another excuse for a good party."
The Queen was also greeted by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and several UAE ministers.
The UAE is a collection of seven emirates that united in 1971 after gaining full independence from the UK.
The Duke of York said: "I think you have to look back to the fact this is a long-standing relationship between the UAE and the United Kingdom which reaches back over 40 years when the UAE was a protectorate.
"A lot of work has gone on in the intervening period. Since the new [UK] government came in there's been an increased level of concern for this particular region in terms of investment, in terms of business opportunities.
"This has been reciprocated by the UAE and other countries in the region."
The Queen's trip includes a two-day state visit to neighbouring Oman.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.