I am delighted to be here in the United Arab Emirates and very happy to have the opportunity to meet with you this evening.

To our Irish citizens, I say Céad Míle Fáilte and wish you all continuing success in your lives and work here in the Emirates.  Since arriving in the UAE, I have enjoyed the hospitality for which this country is rightly renowned and I am therefore glad that tonight our friends here may in turn sample some of the warmth of an Irish welcome.  

Especially over the past thirty years, there has been a continuous and important Irish presence here in the UAE and it has been increasing steadily in more recent times.  There are now about 2,500 Irish citizens in the Emirates, of whom about 1,500 are in Dubai, and I know that many of you have been here for several decades.  

I know too that you have some renowned GAA groups and that the other Asian teams find it hard to keep up with your success!   I am sorry to miss the All-Stars visit next week but I know that you will look after them very well.

Both Ireland and the UAE are dynamic, vibrant, trading societies.   Both countries have seen rapid economic growth over the past decade, with the expectations that this growth will continue well into the future.  In the Gulf region, the UAE is Ireland’s second biggest market and we anticipate that trade between us will have increased by about 30% in 2006.  Here with me on this visit and here tonight are representatives of over 100 Irish companies who are busy making these trade links even stronger.   Among them are a number of education providers who are determined to show that Ireland can provide third-level education second to none.

It is also easier now to travel between Ireland and the Gulf.  Since last March, the Irish airline, Aer Lingus, flies directly to Dubai, with Dnata as their local agents.  At the same, time the Government opened a new Irish visa office in the city to facilitate travel to Ireland.  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been a pleasure to meet with you this evening.   I know that, though far from home, members of the Irish community here retain a pride in their Irishness and cherish the ties that connect them to Ireland and to each other.  I am sure you will continue to enjoy yourselves tonight and I wish you all a wonderful evening. 

ENDS