Building on the Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia last
autumn, the visit will usher in a new era in bilateral
relations focused on a partnership that delivers
wide-ranging benefits for both the United Kingdom and the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We will also enhance our
co-operation in tackling international challenges such as
terrorism, extremism, the conflict and humanitarian crisis
in Yemen and other regional issues such as Iraq and Syria.
This will be the Crown Prince’s first visit to the UK since
his appointment in June 2017 and since Saudi Arabia
embarked on a major programme of domestic reforms. These
include lifting the ban on women driving from June this
year, opening up attendance at major sporting events to
women and allowing cinemas to operate in the country.
Saudi Arabia has also set out a roadmap – Vision 2030 – to
catalyse and open up the country’s economy over the next 15
years, which will provide opportunities for British
businesses to help support delivery in areas such as
education, entertainment and healthcare where they have
world-class expertise.
The roadmap includes plans to become a global investment
powerhouse with a more diversified economy and the visit
will provide an opportunity to explore ways in which Saudi
Arabia can, working with the City of London, achieve this
goal and build on its investment here in the UK in sectors
such as infrastructure.
During the visit, the Crown Prince will have a bilateral
with the Prime Minister and meetings with other Cabinet
Ministers.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister said:
The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia already
helps make both of our countries safer through
intelligence-sharing which has saved British lives, and
more prosperous, with thousands of jobs created in the UK
and substantial opportunities for British companies in
Saudi Arabia. The visit of the Crown Prince will
establish the platform for that relationship to become
even stronger.
Saudi Arabia is changing. We have seen recent decisions
to allow women to drive from June this year, a target for
women to make up one third of the Saudi workforce by
2030, and a move to develop sectors such as health,
education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism. These
are all sectors where the UK leads the world and where
there are new opportunities to work together.
Our strong relationship with Saudi Arabia enables us to
talk frankly and constructively about issues where we
both have concerns, such as regional security and the
conflict and humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Our vision for Global Britain is that of an
outward-looking country strengthening our relationships
around the world and standing up for our values, not
turning in on ourselves and refusing to engage. And the
Crown Prince’s visit will be an opportunity to do just
that for the benefit of people here at home and in Saudi
Arabia.
Further details of the visit will be made available in due
course.
