Amman: In an effort to strengthen ties with the Middle East, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly started a three-day trip there on Tuesday, according to Jordan News Agency.

The journey—to Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan—occurs after the UK government declared that Jordanian and Gulf nationals will profit from a new electronic travel authorization visa programme.

Travellers from the Gulf and Jordan will find the UK to be more accessible and affordable thanks to the programme.

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According to a statement from the British Embassy in Amman, trade and investment with the Gulf region are essential to assisting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's aspirations for economic growth. All three nations are also important allies of the UK in the fields of energy, defence, and security.

The statement also noted that in 2022, UK trade with Kuwait and Qatar was expected to total $23.2 billion.

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Tuesday in Amman, Cleverly will meet with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, and make an announcement about up to £1.5 million in funding for Jordan's projects supporting women and girls.

Safadi will also meet with representatives from the UNHCR and the World Food Programme, where he will announce funding of £30 million over three years to provide cash assistance and support to Jordan's poorest refugees. An estimated 70,000 refugees in camps and host communities would receive basic food and daily necessities as a result each year.

Cleverly declared that "the UK's mutually beneficial relations with the Gulf and Jordan continue to thrive."

The foreign minister expressed pride in the collaboration between the UK and Jordan on shared objectives, such as boosting business ties and security, "for the benefit of us all.

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He continued, "The UK also remains dedicated to assisting refugees and host communities, working in partnership with our partners to aid the most vulnerable in the area.

Cleverly will also meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, on Tuesday in Doha before travelling to Kuwait to meet with Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the crown prince.