Egypt's Sisi holds talks with UAE leaders in Abu Dhabi

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.

“Mohammed bin Rashid and Mohammed bin Zayed discussed means of strengthening our brotherly relations, along with regional and international issues, with the Egyptian president," bin Zayed tweeted after the meeting.

No further details were given regarding what was discussed between the three leaders.

The UAE’s official WAM news agency announced earlier that al-Sisi had arrived in Abu Dhabi early Tuesday for an official visit, the duration of which was not mentioned.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Radi, for his part, said earlier that al-Sisi's visit to the UAE was intended “to discuss means of enhancing political, economic and commercial cooperation and the latest regional developments."

Since his assumption of the Egyptian presidency in 2014, al-Sisi has paid a handful of visits to the UAE, most recently in September of last year.

It is the second time for al-Sisi to visit the UAE since last summer, when four Arab states -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain -- collectively severed ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Qatar strenuously denies the terror allegations, saying attempts to isolate it by its fellow Arab states constitute a breach of international law.

Along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE was a primary backer of Egypt’s 2013 military coup, which -- spearheaded by al-Sisi -- led to the ouster of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president and a Muslim Brotherhood leader.