Festival organisers said there were business contracts to be won in Dubai

The links between Dundee and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been celebrated at a festival in the city.

The first Emirates Festival Day aimed to highlight the range of contracts that can be won in the UAE by local and Scottish businesses.

Exhibitors and supporters included the Dubai Government, Emirates Airlines, the Middle East Business Club and universities from the UAE.

Dundee is the only place in the UK to be a sister city of Dubai.

'Mutual interest'

The sister city scheme sees areas across the world work together to promote cultural and commercial links.

Dubai's other sister cities include New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Moscow and Geneva.

The Emirates Festival Day was organised by the Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee, which provides courses and information on Arabic and Islamic studies.

Principal Malory Nye said: "It is appropriate that this event will focus on the relationships and opportunities that exist between Dubai and Scotland, building on the mutual interest and understanding that exists between the two countries.

"For many years now the Al-Maktoum Institute has been saying - with great justification - that the interest of Dubai in Scotland through the institute has great potential benefits for Scotland.

"Now is the time to try to ensure this is taken even further and I have no doubt that it will."

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