King Charles’ and the Middle East: A look back at the special relationship

From friendships with GCC royals to an interest in Islam, we explore the British monarch’s love of the region.

As King Charles III returns to the UAE to speak at COP28, we look back at his special relationship with the Middle East.

King Charles has visited the region many times – whether it’s meeting royal families or wearing a keffiyeh, he clearly has a love for the Arab world. His current trip marks his first visit to the UAE since he was crowned King. 

King Charles is the longest-serving heir to the throne and was declared king following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. The strong relationship between the United Kingdom’s royal family and the Middle East was forged by his mother. Not only was she the first member of the country’s royal family to visit the region, but the most widely travelled British monarch.

In total, King Charles has made 12 official visits to Saudi Arabia, seven to Kuwait and the UAE, six official visits to Qatar, and five to Jordan. Here’s a look back at the special relationship between King Charles and the Middle East.

King Charles III’s interest in Islamic studies and landscapes

King Charles has a keen interest in Islam. He is a patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, and studied Arabic so he could read the Quran. 

He once said: “Islam can teach us today a way of understanding and living in the world which Christianity itself is the poorer for having lost. At the heart of Islam is its preservation of an integral view of the universe.” 

King Charles loves to paint and over the years he has drawn inspiration from the Middle East. His artwork includes watercolours of Aqaba in Jordan, and Port of Suez, Wadi Arkam and Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.

King Charles’ tour with Diana, Princess of Wales 

The then Prince Charles and Princess Diana undertook their first trip to the UAE in 1989. The nine-day tour of the Middle East included visits to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The pair went on a charm offensive, as the trip was intended to boost trade between Britain and the Middle East. 

Princess Diana was praised for her modest fashion when she stepped off the plane in Abu Dhabi. Dressed in a high-waisted blue pencil skirt, white jacket with blue lapels and a blue turban, she covered her hair in both a respectable and fashionable manner.

The couple met Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, at his majlis in Al Ain. The pair were treated to a picnic at Ghabat Raqnah Oasis, then visited the camel races and British Consulate in Dubai. 

The warmth that King Charles had for the UAE’s leaders was apparent. When he met Sheikh Zayed, he joked: “When we come from Britain, all we’re looking for is the sun.”

King Charles’ solo tours

In 1999, King Charles made a seven-day solo visit to the Middle East and visited Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While in the UAE, he visited the Dubai Airshow, and even popped into the cockpit of a jet.

In 2013, he visited Saudi Arabia and toured Wadi Hanifa, and got a sneak preview of what we now know as Diriyah Gate. The area is considered the birthplace of modern-day Saudi, and provided an insight for the monarch about the kingdom.

In 2014, King Charles visited the region including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. He was met by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. 

In 2015, King Charles visited the UAE briefly while on tour in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. While in Saudi Arabia, he visited AlUla with Prince Sultan bin Salman. The same year, when King Abdullah passed away, who he regarded as a personal friend, he flew to Riyadh to pay his respects.

King Charles’ tour with Queen Consort, Camilla

King Charles and Queen Consort, Camilla visited the UAE together as a couple for the first time in 2016. The three-day trip included a visit to Oman and Bahrain. 

The pair visited Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The Duchess visited the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, and was photographed touchingly resting her hand on a bird while it was undergoing an operation. 

Prince Charles then made his way to Zabeel Palace, and met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The leaders discussed cultural ties between the UK and UAE. 

King Charles at COP28

King Charles III is famous for his love of the environment, and he has been an advocate for organic farming and preventing climate change. He will attend the COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum, which runs alongside the event. He will also speak at COP28 in Dubai on 1 December 2023 and is expected to share his vision for the future. He is no stranger to sharing these views with world leaders, as he previously spoke at Glasgow’s COP26 in 2021 and COP21 in Paris in 2025. 

Given the frequency of his visits and his love of the Middle East, we are sure it won’t be long until he returns. 

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