Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met on Tuesday Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Cairo, presidential spokesperson Bassam Radi said without providing further details.
Al-Sisi and bin Zayed are expected to discuss enhancing bilateral relations as well as issues of common interest during the top UAE official’s two-day visit to Egypt. Meanwhile, joint naval drills, dubbed Khalifa III, kicked off today in the Red Sea between Egypt and the UAE’s air and maritime troops, set to last for several days. The drills aim to enhance military relations between the two countries as well as exchange filed expertise.
Bin Zayed’s visit comes nearly two weeks after Al-Sisi as re-elected for a second four-year term in office with 97% of valid votes against his sole challenger Moussa Mostafa Moussa. Abu Dhabi’s crown prince was among the first state leaders to congratulate Al-Sisi for the victory, emphasising the historical ties between the two countries.
In February, Al-Sisi visited the UAE, arriving from Oman to discuss bilateral issues, particularity combating terrorism. The UAE is one of Al-Sisi’s strongest allies, along with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The three countries provided his government with billions of dollars to support Egypt’s economy.
