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British expats in UAE celebrate 88th birthday of Queen Elizabeth
| Published: | 24 Apr at 6 PM |
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Diplomatic missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi spared no expense for get-togethers in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 88th birthday.
The red carpet was rolled out in earnest earlier this week for the great and good from the UAE’s 120,000 strong expat community. Hundreds of invited guests thronged the embassy grounds in both cities in respect to the celebrated monarch’s amazingly long reign.
The party of the year in Abu Dhabi was held on Wednesday evening, a day later than Dubai’s birthday thrash, and both embassies smothered the grounds with Union Jacks, played the National Anthem and cut elaborate birthday cakes in Queen Elizabeth’s honour. Even a British Army bugle band was flown in for both occasions, and gave of their best in spite of the heat.
High society from both emirates included ministers of culture, community development and health, ministers of international co-operation, and other ministers of state. Abu Dhabi British Ambassador Dominic Jerney’s speech made much of the milestone of of the Queen’s birthday and its relationship with the bond between the UK and the UAE.
The benefits of trade and investment featured strongly in the diplomatic speeches, as did the contributions the expat communities in the UAE have made to its development. The massive UAE investment in a new UK port also found its way into the general self-congratulations.
The two events were sponsored by no less than Aston Martin, makers of luxury sports cars much-loved by wealthy Emiratis as well as the millions of fans of the James Bond movies. In the end, though, all the upscale frills and political niceties of the lavish events were all about one thing – congratulating an amazing woman for her longevity and loyalty to the country she loves above all else.
The red carpet was rolled out in earnest earlier this week for the great and good from the UAE’s 120,000 strong expat community. Hundreds of invited guests thronged the embassy grounds in both cities in respect to the celebrated monarch’s amazingly long reign.
The party of the year in Abu Dhabi was held on Wednesday evening, a day later than Dubai’s birthday thrash, and both embassies smothered the grounds with Union Jacks, played the National Anthem and cut elaborate birthday cakes in Queen Elizabeth’s honour. Even a British Army bugle band was flown in for both occasions, and gave of their best in spite of the heat.
High society from both emirates included ministers of culture, community development and health, ministers of international co-operation, and other ministers of state. Abu Dhabi British Ambassador Dominic Jerney’s speech made much of the milestone of of the Queen’s birthday and its relationship with the bond between the UK and the UAE.
The benefits of trade and investment featured strongly in the diplomatic speeches, as did the contributions the expat communities in the UAE have made to its development. The massive UAE investment in a new UK port also found its way into the general self-congratulations.
The two events were sponsored by no less than Aston Martin, makers of luxury sports cars much-loved by wealthy Emiratis as well as the millions of fans of the James Bond movies. In the end, though, all the upscale frills and political niceties of the lavish events were all about one thing – congratulating an amazing woman for her longevity and loyalty to the country she loves above all else.
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