Nigel Farage meets UAE ministers and drums up donations on Dubai trip

The Guardian ^ | Thu 29 Jan 2026 | Edmund Bower and Rowena Mason

[MinorityRepublican]

Nigel Farage has paid a visit to Dubai to build diplomatic relations with United Arab Emirates ministers and drum up donations for Reform UK from wealthy expats.

The two-night trip was his second visit to the Gulf state in two months, after a £10,000 trip hosted by Abu Dhabi to attend the Formula One grand prix.

Farage’s ability to secure an audience with foreign government ministers is a new development, as his diplomatic ties have previously been largely with Donald Trump’s US administration.

Speaking at a GB News event, Farage said he had had a “very good interview” with an unnamed UAE minister on Wednesday.

One of those present at the event was the UAE industry minister, Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the state oil company Adnoc and a former chair of the UAE’s national media council.

Farage gave a brief speech at the event, held in honour of GB News’ fifth anniversary, at the Aura Skypool, a 50-storey venue that boasts the world’s “highest infinity pool”.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, he said he had spoken to “loads” of British expats during his stay, trying to secure backing.

“There’s loads of expats [in Dubai]. Many of them would like to come back to the UK,” he said, citing taxation and crime as reasons Britons were choosing to live abroad.

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[marktwain]

Better than Labor cozying up to the Chinese Communist Party.