Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom have entered a new era of relationship following the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Britain last year. The visit is seen as a milestone in the Saudi-British ties.
"King Abdullah's visit last year paved the way for a series of bilateral activities - in the political, economic, and cultural sectors," observed British Ambassador William Patey, speaking to Arab News on the occasion of the embassy's celebrations of the queen's birthday.
The ambassador points out that the bilateral trade has increased 15 percent but believes there is wide scope for even more trade and business links between the two countries in future and, along with that, an even greater engagement in the Saudi market by British companies.
One reason for such expectations is the planned Saudi-British Joint Investment Company, which the two kingdoms hope to establish next year to promote joint ventures in the both countries. As it is, British business is already a major investor in the Kingdom. There are 200 Saudi-British joint ventures worth $14 billion - and more are happening all the time. Some of the leading companies like Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Cooperation (SABIC) have opened offices in London, which has become the hub for global financial activities.
Ambassador Patey talks of pillars upholding bilateral ties. "During my first term (he served between 1995-1998 as deputy ambassador) defense and trade were the twin pillars of Saudi-British relations. As our relations grew year on year, Saudi Arabia and Britain strengthened their relations on regional issues such as Palestine, Iraq and Iran," he said.
"This became the third pillar of our expanding relations. Subsequently both countries have developed a shared interest in security and the fight against terrorism. This, he said, had become the fourth pillar of bilateral relations.
"Now a fifth pillar has been added in the form of Saudi-British cooperation in the field of education," he said.
As to the future, he said: "We are hoping to see more students coming into the United Kingdom through the King Abdullah Scholarship." Britain is a favored destination for the program, not that this surprises the ambassador.
"Half of the 50 world's top universities are based in Britain," he said. Some, he added, are adjusting their systems to make Saudi students find it easier to integrate into the British curriculum by introducing foundation courses. He noted that some of leading universities such as Cambridge, London and Leeds are being linked to the universities in Saudi Arabia.
The issuance of biometric visas have facilitated students and other visitors to obtain entry visas to Britain within 24 hours, the envoy said, adding that the UK is the only country that issues ten-year multiple visa to frequent travelers."
"Our defense relations will continue to grow from strength to greater strength. Last year we witnessed the signing of the agreement with Al-Salam Aircraft Company which bought a fleet of Typhoon Eurofighter aircraft which are being manufactured and will be delivered in the course of next year."
There are other, perhaps, smaller pillars to the relationship. For example, around 25,000 British Muslims come to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for their annual Haj pilgrimage. The ambassador also tells the British have begun to help Saudi companies develop their businesses in world trade. "We have tremendous experience in the global market, and the UK is seeking to develop itself as a global hub for world trade. It is already a global financial center and it could help the Kingdom access the growing global market.
"We are an open society, people from all over the world have settled in the country. We have transformed our economy from manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy. Countries like Saudi Arabia want to become a knowledge-based economy and we can be the national partners in their ventures."
London is now the leading city in the world for Islamic financing, Ambassador Patey points out. His appointment to Riyadh following the previous ambassador's transfer to the all-important post at Kabul was a personal pleasure.
"My wife Vanessa and I arrived in the Kingdom in 2007. We have returned after nearly nine years with many happy memories. We are renewing our relationship with many of our old Saudi friends and look forward to making many new ones. We will continue to do what we can to strengthen the already strong relationship between the two Kingdoms," he concluded.
