HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, wife of Britain's HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, met earlier today with a group of the UAE's women leaders at what was entitled a 'Women's Empowerment Lunch.' The Duchess was received on arrival by Dr. Noura bint Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

According to officials, the Duchess had specifically asked to meet a group of prominent Emirati women from a variety of sectors during her visit.

Participants in the lunch, which was arranged by the Crown Prince's Court, included senior government officials, business leaders and officers in the UAE Armed Forces.

During the informal occasion, the Duchess discussed with those present the ways in which Emirati women enjoy full opportunities to participate in all sectors of life, in accordance with the country's programme of providing full empowerment for women.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, Dr. Al Kaabi said that the meeting, as well as the whole of the current three-day visit by HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall to the UAE, was "testimony to the strong relations that exist between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom."

"Our links go far beyond our close political and economic ties," she said.

"As we can see from today's inauguration of the UAE-UK Year of Culture, they are also particularly strong in the field of culture."

"We were delighted to have had the opportunity to demonstrate to the Duchess the way in which UAE women are engaged not only in the building of those ties, but also how Emirati women are engaged in the UAE's development in all fields," Dr. Al Kaabi said.