LONDON / MENA Newswire9 / — Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, met Jonathan Powell, the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, in London for talks focused on regional developments, security risks and bilateral coordination. The meeting brought together senior Emirati and British officials as the two countries reviewed issues affecting regional stability, maritime routes, energy supplies and the wider global economy.
The discussions centered on the repercussions of missile and drone attacks that Emirati officials said targeted civilian sites and facilities in the UAE. Powell expressed the United Kingdom’s solidarity with the UAE and condemned the attacks, while Sheikh Abdullah thanked Britain for its supportive position. He also affirmed that residents and visitors in the UAE are safe, according to the official account of the meeting.
The talks also covered the impact of the attacks on international shipping, energy supplies and global commerce. Both sides reviewed the need to safeguard maritime corridors and reinforce the freedom of global trade, a priority for economies linked to Gulf ports, energy exports and international logistics. The discussion placed maritime security alongside broader regional and international cooperation on peace, stability and security.
Maritime security in focus
Sheikh Abdullah and Powell reviewed ways to strengthen regional and international cooperation aimed at consolidating security, peace and stability. The meeting addressed shared concerns over developments affecting the Middle East and surrounding waterways, including risks to civilian infrastructure and trade flows. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions also touched on issues of mutual interest within the strategic relationship between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State, Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, and Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Their attendance reflected the diplomatic, political and security dimensions of the talks. The engagement formed part of continuing UAE and UK consultations on regional affairs, bilateral relations and coordination with partners on issues affecting stability and global trade.
Strategic relations reviewed
The UK Government has identified Powell as the National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a role involving advice on national security and coordination across government. In the London meeting, Powell’s participation placed the discussion within the broader framework of national security dialogue between the two countries. Sheikh Abdullah’s role as foreign minister placed the UAE side’s focus on diplomacy, regional security and international cooperation.
The meeting concluded with both sides reviewing strategic relations and areas of shared interest. The official readout emphasized cooperation on regional and international security, maritime corridors, freedom of trade, energy supplies and economic stability. The talks underscored the UAE and the United Kingdom’s continued diplomatic engagement at senior levels as both governments address developments affecting the Gulf region, international navigation and wider global markets.