The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has formally extended his congratulations to Andy Burnham following his assumption of office as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In his message, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his best wishes for Burnham’s success in driving the nation toward future prosperity and emphasized his eagerness to collaborate on deepening the ties between the two countries. This sentiment was echoed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, who highlighted his commitment to nurturing the historic and strategic partnership shared by the UAE and the UK.

Burnham, widely known as the "King of the North" for his tenure as the mayor of Greater Manchester, officially took the helm this Monday after an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. His political background spans several decades, including service as a cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. His appointment comes on the heels of recent high-level engagements between the two nations, most notably an April 2026 meeting in Abu Dhabi between the UAE President and former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which focused on expanding cooperation in investment, trade, and innovation.