Five Britons with links to UAE honoured by Queen Elizabeth

DUBAI // Five British citizens with strong connections to the UAE were included in Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honours list 2015.

Paul Griffiths, Robert Stokoe and Sandra Owen, who all live and work in the UAE, were recognised for their services to the UK overseas. Shane Nainappan, who recently left the Emirates and Mark Leppard, who is due to take up a job in Abu Dhabi soon, were also honoured.

Mr Griffiths, chief executive officer, Dubai Airports and vice president of the Royal College of Organists, was made a CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) for his services to British prosperity and to music.

Mr Stokoe, director at Jumeirah English Speaking School, Dubai, was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to education while Ms Owen, governor at The British Community Assistance Fund was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to the British community in the United Arab Emirates.

Also on the honours list was Mr Nainappan, who served four years as an asset recovery adviser to the UAE and GCC at the UK Crown Prosecution Service. He was made an MBE "for services to law and order, particularly international co-operation". He left the UAE in April.

Mr Leppard, who lives in Qatar but will soon take over as headmaster at the British School of Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, was made an MBE for services to education.

“I talk often of my immense pride in the contributions to the UAE of the British government, British businesses and individual British men and women,” said British ambassador to the UAE, Philip Parham.

“From the building and designing of the UAE’s most iconic infrastructure to the running of its biggest projects, British contributions can be seen everywhere. Honours bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are one way in which we are able to recognise the achievements of those who do so much to make us proud.”

Consul general Edward Hobart said: “The UAE and UK have an historic and strong partnership, and these individuals are manifestations of that. Sandra and Robert have educated and supported thousands of Dubai residents. They have served not only the British but far wider interests, playing leading roles in this diverse community. Paul throughout his career in business and as a top class organist has exemplified the best of British leadership and innovation.”