UK's Prince William in UAE on climate-focused first official visit

Britain's Prince William visited an Abu Dhabi mangrove park at the start of a climate-focused visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

The Duke of Cambridge will also learn about efforts to fight the illegal wildlife trade and will tour Dubai's Expo site on his first official visit to the wealthy Gulf state, which is widely criticised over its human rights record.

"Excited to be arriving in Dubai," Prince William tweeted on Wednesday, along with a picture taken from an aircraft window.

The British royal will discuss his Earthshot Prize, which rewards innovative solutions to environmental problems, and his United for Wildlife scheme with UAE officials.

His visit also aims to bolster ties between the two countries after the UAE, a former British protectorate, marked 50 years since its founding in 1971.

It comes as the UK's High Court recently authorised British-Sudanese dual citizen and football fan Ali Issa Ahmed to proceed with suing the Emirati head of Interpol, Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, over allegations of torture and false imprisonment in the UAE.

In September, the UK and UAE governments announced that the UAE will invest billions into the UK.

The five-year investment worth £10 billion ($13.8 billion) will focus on technology, infrastructure and climate-focused energy transition.

It was announced following talks in London between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's de facto ruler.

The Johnson government had pledged to boost trade with the rest of the world, including the Middle East, after Britain left the European Union in late 2020.

The two countries' partnership also encompasses strong military ties. The UAE's relations with Gulf neighbour Iran are tense, and it has suffered missile attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels and an Iraqi militia in recent weeks.