UAE Foreign Minister Meets Nigel Farage in London as Reform UK Courts Gulf Ties
The United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, during an official visit to London on Friday, May 15. The meeting was confirmed by the UAE’s state news agency, WAM. middleeasteyeThe National
The two sides discussed strategic relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves mutual interests. They also exchanged views on the latest regional developments and the repercussions of Iranian attacks that targeted civilian sites and facilities in the UAE using missiles and drones. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abdullah bin Zayed, who also serves as the UAE’s deputy prime minister, met British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell during the same visit. His decision to add Farage — the leader of an opposition party with no government role — to his schedule drew attention as a sign of Abu Dhabi’s deepening interest in Reform UK. middleeasteye
A Relationship Built on Shared Ground
Senior Emirati officials are reportedly interested in strengthening ties with Reform UK due to shared opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Farage has pledged to ban should he take power. New Arab
Last September, Farage pledged to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, citing the fact that several Gulf states have already done so. The Financial Times reported last week that Farage was also pushing for a meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. middleeasteye
A potential meeting with President Mohammed bin Zayed is seen by allies of Farage as an important step in bolstering his international profile. Farage’s outreach to Abu Dhabi’s leadership has been aided by the recent defection of former Conservative Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to Reform. Zahawi has extensive business interests in the UAE and is understood to have close ties to the country’s foreign minister. One senior Reform party figure said Zahawi’s connections in the Gulf would be critical to fundraising efforts. New Arab
The Dubai Speech
In January 2026, Farage delivered the keynote speech at a private party in Dubai hosted by the British television channel GB News. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology, attended the gathering. middleeasteye
At that event, Farage addressed the Emirati officials in the room directly. “We have a lot to learn from you, my dear sirs,” he said. “We recognise you are our friends — a Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.” According to sources cited by Middle East Eye, he praised the UAE for banning the Muslim Brotherhood and said a Reform government would follow suit. middleeasteye
Farage also told the assembled audience: “Look around at the palm. I want Clacton to look like this,” referring to his own constituency in England. middleeasteye
Reform and Political Islam
In February 2026, Farage said in a speech in London that Islamists are “embedded” not just in Britain’s political and education systems, but also in its police force. The following month, in March, he accused Muslims praying at an interfaith event in Trafalgar Square of “attempting dominance over our capital city and our culture,” adding: “We will not put up with this anymore.” middleeasteye
The UAE’s own record on related issues has drawn scrutiny in the United Kingdom. In January 2025, the UAE labelled eight British organisations as terror groups over alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood, although none are accused of breaking British law. In 2023, it was revealed that the UAE had paid the Geneva-based intelligence firm Alp Services to launch a smear campaign against Britain’s largest Muslim charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide, by attempting to link its officials with the Muslim Brotherhood and militant groups. middleeasteye
Regional Impact
Bilateral trade between the UK and the UAE now exceeds £25 billion ($33.7 billion) annually, driven by a shared focus on open markets and innovation-led growth. More than 14,000 UK exporters are currently active in the UAE market. Economy Middle East
Reform scored major gains in last week’s local elections and continues to perform strongly in opinion polls. The meeting with Abdullah bin Zayed puts the UAE in a position of having engaged with both the current British government and its most prominent electoral challenger in the same week — a dual-track approach that, according to Middle East Eye, reflects Abu Dhabi’s view of Farage as a potential future prime minister. middleeasteye
Background
The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Cairo in 1928 and is one of the world’s largest movements associated with political Islam. It is banned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. The Brotherhood has long maintained that it is a peaceful movement committed to democratic political participation. Many governments in the Middle East and North Africa view it as a threat, partly because parties affiliated with it have performed strongly whenever free elections have been held in the region. middleeasteye
What Happens Next
The Financial Times reported that Farage is pushing for a meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, though no date or confirmation has been announced. Senior Emirati officials are understood to remain interested in deepening ties with Reform UK, and Zahawi’s Gulf contacts are expected to play a role in advancing those efforts. The UAE’s foreign ministry said both sides agreed to explore further ways to enhance UAE-UK strategic relations, without specifying a timeline or format for follow-up engagement. middleeasteyeNew Arab
