British hostage rescued by UAE forces

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, telephoned British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday night to inform him that the UAE Armed Forces operating in Aden had reached the location in Yemen where the UK citizen Robert Douglas Semple had been kidnapped by the terrorist Al Qaeda organisation.

During a military intelligence operation, the UAE forces had freed Semple, taking him to Aden from where he was flown on a UAE military aircraft to Abu Dhabi.

This action by the UAE forces in Aden is renewed evidence of the UAE's unchanging policy towards terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations. It also confirms the strong and friendly relations between the UAE and Britain.

It further provides a good example of the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation while facing up to and eradicating terrorism.

The 64-year-old Semple was working as a petroleum engineer in the Hadramaut area when he was kidnapped in February, 2014.

On arrival in Abu Dhabi, Semple was received at the airport by UAE officials and the British Ambassador. He was immediately taken to hospital for checks on his state of health.

The UAE authorities also arranged for Semple to speak with his wife by telephone to inform her that he had been rescued and was safe.

Semple will leave the UAE for the UK after all necessary medical checks and treatments have been completed.

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