UK minister thanks UAE for help getting Britons home

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, was thanked for keeping the UAE's airports open. (Pawan Singh/The National)
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, was thanked for keeping the UAE's airports open. (Pawan Singh/The National)

A senior British government official has praised the work of the UAE in helping to repatriate UK citizens amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Middle East Minister James Cleverly said co-operation between the UK and UAE "is helping us to meet the challenges presented by the coronavirus".

Speaking with Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cleverly thanked the UAE for its support and for keeping the airports open.

The UK and UAE have also signed an agreement that allows Britons stranded abroad to transit through the Emirates on their way home.

"The generosity of our friends in the region has helped many British citizens to return to their country as we fight together a pandemic," said Sir John Lorimer, senior defence adviser on the Middle East to the UK government.

Patrick Moody, British ambassador to the UAE, said this week that flights were continuing to help UK citizens who wanted to return home.

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