ISTANBUL

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met on Saturday UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional and international developments, with a focus on the Middle East.

The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that the two leaders exchanged views on current global and regional challenges, including the Middle East, and efforts aimed at advancing de-escalation.

Both sides emphasized the importance of continued coordination and underscored the need to prioritize dialogue and diplomatic solutions to reinforce security and stability and support development across the region.

The leaders also reviewed the close fraternal ties between Qatar and the UAE and explored ways to strengthen cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.

Sheikh arrived in Abu Dhabi earlier Saturday on what Emirati and Qatari media described as a “fraternal” visit.

The visit comes amid steadily improving relations between Doha and Abu Dhabi following the January 2021 Al-Ula agreement, which ended a diplomatic rift lasting more than three years between Doha and several Gulf states.

Sheikh Mohamed also received visits described as “fraternal” from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Friday.