Queen arrives in Abu Dhabi for state visit

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RETURN TO THE ROOTS : Thousands of passengres wanting to reach their homes to celebrate the Eid festival swarming onto a train when it reached the Airport Railway Station in the city Friday morning. — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have arrived in Abu Dhabi for a five-day state visit to the Gulf, reports BBC.
The monarch is in the region as part of government moves to renew the UK's relationship with the Gulf Arab states.
The Queen last visited the UAE in 1979 when she was a guest of founding father and ex-president of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan.
The Duke of York is also on the royal visit and was already in the UAE to greet his mother on arrival.
Speaking to reporters before the Queen's plane touched down, Prince Andrew praised his nephew Prince William's fiancee Kate Middleton and said next April's royal wedding would be "absolutely fantastic".
The duke said: "I think this is the most wonderful piece of news that the UK has had for a long time.
"I've been away for a couple of days now so I'm not fully up to speed with what's going on but I'm aware that the UK has taken Kate to their heart. I think that's absolutely wonderful news.
"I understand [the wedding is] going to take place over a bank holiday weekend so it's another excuse for a good party."
The Queen was also greeted by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and several UAE ministers.
The Queen's trip includes a two-day state visit to neighbouring Oman.