Turkey hosts Emirati crown prince

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hosting Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates seek to repair their tense relations and increase economic cooperation.

A statement from the Turkish president’s office said the two leaders would discuss bilateral ties as well as steps that can be taken to expand cooperation. They would also exchange views on regional and international developments.

The visit by the crown prince is his first official trip to Turkey since 2012, and the highest-level visit by an Emirati official since relations hit a low.

The crown prince’s brother, UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Turkey in August as the first major step toward mending strained ties.

Erdogan said after his meeting with Sheikh Tahnoun in August that he expected increased investments from the UAE in Turkey. Sheikh Tahnoun’s visit was followed by a telephone call between Erdogan and the crown prince.

At the core of their tensions is Turkey’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood in the region, which the UAE and other Arab nations labeled as a terrorist organization.

Turkey is also engaged in an effort to mend its frayed ties with regional powers, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, after finding itself increasingly isolated internationally.