The Duke of Cambridge is “excited” to be in Dubai to celebrate the UK and discuss with his hosts ways of achieving “a more sustainable world” through his environmental projects.

William’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his first major overseas tour since 2019, will see him join events showcasing British talent at the Dubai Expo 2020 and taking part in the Queen’s baton relay for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Soon after arriving in Dubai on Wednesday on a commercial flight, the duke tweeted under his own name, signing off his social media post with his initial “W”, and posted an image of the Dubai skyline taken from a plane.

He said: “Excited to be arriving in Dubai to celebrate the UK at @DubaiExpo and discuss the vital issue of working together with the UAE and international partners to achieve a more sustainable world with @earthshotprize and United for Wildlife. W”

The duke, who has never officially travelled to the UAE, will visit the Dubai Expo on Thursday when it is temporarily taken over by UK National Day.

UK talent will be featured during the event which will also showcase the Commonwealth Games 2022 baton relay, launched by the Queen from Buckingham Palace last October, as it parades through the Expo site visiting Commonwealth national pavilions.

Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s economic affairs programme director, accused the UAE of having a “dismal” human rights record and said any UK trade deals arising from the Dubai Expo should be aligned with the Britain’s commitment to safeguard human rights.

Britain has had strong ties with the UAE for almost 200 years – a relationship that endures to this day.

The region’s importance to the UK was down to its location close to the vital trade route to India via the waters of the Arabian and Red Seas.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Queen passes her baton to British parasport athlete Kadeena Cox to launch the global relay for the Commonwealth Games being staged in Birmingham (Victoria Jones/PA)

It was the discovery of “black gold” in the 1950s that transformed the Gulf from a collection of sleepy harbours, where fishing and the declining pearl industry were the mainstays of the economy, to a global financial powerhouse.

The UAE was created in 1971 by the “Trucial States” which had gained their independence from the UK.

It is formed of seven states – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain – which are governed by a supreme council of rulers made up of the seven emirs, who appoint the prime minister and the cabinet.

Kensington Palace said when the visit was first announced: “The bond between the UK and the UAE is deep and strong and Prince William’s visit will highlight and build upon these links as he has the opportunity to engage with young Emiratis, leaders from government and committed conservationists.”

During the visit the duke will learn more about initiatives protecting areas of flora and fauna in the region.

He will also have the opportunity to highlight his environmental award the Earthshot Prize and his United for Wildlife initiative tackling the illegal wildlife trade.

Mr Frankental highlighted the case of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ordered by the High Court in December to pay more than £500 million to his ex-wife Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and their two children following their divorce.

A large proportion of the money was allocated to protect the trio from the threat posed by the Sheikh.

He added: “Any UK trade deals with the Gulf states, including those that might arise from the Dubai Expo, need to be aligned with Britain’s commitments on protecting and promoting human rights and labour standards, and they need to factor in the UAE’s dismal human rights record.

“You wouldn’t know it from the glitzy pavilions of the Expo site or the event’s ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ tagline, but political dissent of any kind is not tolerated in the UAE.”