Prince William thanks UAE for 'wonderful day'

The Duke of Cambridge paid a memorable visit to the Emirates on Thursday

Prince William plants mangrove seedlings with pupils. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. After the tour, they were due to hold a private bilateral meeting. Getty

Prince William visits the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors outside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William greets Expo visitors outside the UK Pavilion. Victor Besa / The National

The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Prince William chat inside the UAE pavilion. Getty

Prince William watches a display inside the UAE Pavilion, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Noura Al Kaabi. Getty

The Duke of Cambridge signs the pavilion guestbook. Getty

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Prince William, centre, visits Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. AFP

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, speaks to the prince about work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Getty

The duke’s visit to the port is part of a busy tour of the UAE. Getty

Prince William's visit will build on the strong bond between the UK and the UAE. Getty

The duke travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to visit one of the world’s busiest ports. John Dennehy / The National

Prince William sees how goods are monitored in and out of the port. John Dennehy / The National

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visits Jubail Mangrove Park with the prince. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Prince William at the mangrove park in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William and pupils at Jubail Mangrove Park. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The prince and companies in the UAE are working together to protect flora and fauna. Victor Besa / The National

Children tend to seedlings after meeting Prince William. Victor Besa / The National

The seedlings were planted at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Lilly-Rose Mayall and Amaan Haider of the British School Al Khubairat plant mangrove seedlings. Victor Besa / The National

The view from Prince William's plane as he arrives in Dubai. Photo: Kensington Royal

Prince William during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last year. The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the UAE for his first official trip to the Emirates. Getty

Pupils at Victory Heights Primary school thought of some burning questions for Prince William before his visit to Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Prince William visited Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Prince William has thanked the UAE for a “wonderful day” after concluding a landmark visit.

The Duke of Cambridge said the trip provided him with the opportunity to celebrate “sustainability, collaboration and innovation".

The UK royal made a lasting impression during his first trip to the Emirates, meeting pupils in Abu Dhabi before greeting crowds at Expo 2020 Dubai later in the day.

A packed itinerary also involved meeting Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and observing efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade at the vast Port of Jebel Ali.

On his first official overseas trip for two years, the prince announced the winners of increased funding from the Earthshot Prize, which he introduced in 2020 along with Sir David Attenborough to fund environmental innovations.

“Thank you for a wonderful day in the UAE!," said Prince William on the official Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Twitter account.

“From visiting the Jubail Mangroves and Jebel Ali Port to seeing our Earthshot finalists and celebrating the UK National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, it was great to spend time celebrating sustainability, collaboration and innovation.”

Prince William also shared a photo with his 2.3 million followers of himself standing next to a Dubai Police car.

He used the account to share memorable scenes of him meeting crowds during his trip to Expo 2020 Dubai.

He praised the striking UK pavilion as a “promotion of our advancements in innovation, space, and artificial intelligence".

The Expo 2020 leg of the historic visit involved the prince embarking on an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands and meeting families who had been queuing for hours to see him.

“I’ve been a fan of his mother [Princess Diana] when I was very little, so I’ve been following him all my life,” said Hania Kazmi from Pakistan, who has lived in the UAE for six years and was waiting outside the UK pavilion. “We were born in the same year,” she said with a chuckle.

“I’ve followed him since I was young through social media and all these things,” said Ms Kazmi. “Maybe he is going to be a king, and he is a celebrity.”