According to the British government, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have long been close allies. Relations between the two countries date back to 1848, when Faisal bin Turki, ruler of the Second Saudi state, formally requested the support of the British Political Resident in Bushire for his representative in Trucial Oman. In May 2021, the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia and the UK met in London and discussed global issues and bilateral relations, as well as the issue of Palestine.