and Qatar in the region . As the nation diversifies its economy away from oil , commercial opportunities for UK thrive in a variety of sectors . Saudi Arabia is currently planning six privately-developed economic cities . The $ 26.6 billion King Abdullah Economic City -- the largest of these -- will create one million jobs and home to two million residents . The aim , says the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority , is to boost the economy by creating a pro-business environment , and attracting investors and fostering investment opportunities . The UK has , since the early 1990s , been one of the top five exporters to Saudi Arabia , behind USA , Germany , China and Japan . In 2007 , Saudi Arabian bank SABB predicts that UK exports to the Kingdom will increase by more than 5.5 per cent to reach $ 2.8 billion . While the balance of trade continues to be favor of the British , Saudi Arabia 's exports to Britain are also gaining ground and closing the trade gap . This year , exports to Britain are expected to reach a record high of $ 2.1 billion , says SABB .
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Behind the state banquet and smiles from Queen Elizabeth and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown , King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia 's visit to London this week caused a wave of dissent . The UK political elite boycotted events . Demonstrators lined the Mall . The UK foreign secretary pulled out of a meeting with his Saudi counterpart to be with his new adopted son . And just days before he arrived , the Saudi King accused British officials of ignoring information that could have averted the terror attacks in London on July 2005 . Whether the politics of the event were a success is open to debate . But this was just part of the story . The Saudis were also in town to cement a strong trading and business relationship that has developed between the two Kingdoms over the last 20 years . Saudi Arabia is the UK 's largest trading partner in the Middle East . And behind the USA , the UK is the second largest foreign investor in the Kingdom . UK Trade & Investment has designated Saudi Arabia one of its 17 `` High Growth Markets '' along with UAE