Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh

The two leaders discussed ways to enhance ties and boost strategic co-operation

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, landed in Riyadh on Monday on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Sheikh Mohamed and his delegation were received at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“My brother Mohammed bin Salman and I discussed ways to further deepen the fraternal bond and strategic co-operation between our nations,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter after the talks with the Crown Prince.

“The partnership between the UAE and Saudi Arabia continues to be strong and prosperous."

The two leaders explored avenues for enhancing ties and boosting strategic co-operation between their countries, the state news agency Wam reported.

They also exchanged Eid Al Adha greetings and prayed for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They discussed the acceleration of joint efforts to improve the lives of the peoples of their countries and the region as a whole.

The Emirati and Saudi leaders reviewed the latest regional, Arab and international developments and the efforts to eliminate challenges to peace and stability.

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Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the greetings of President Sheikh Khalifa to Saudi King Salman, wishing him continued good health and well-being.

Prince Mohammed reciprocated by conveying King Salman's greetings to the President.

The high-level meeting came as both countries continued to push forward with ambitious plans to diversify their economies across several sectors.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, now five years in the making, has already developed some of the world’s largest mega projects, including the Red Sea Islands development plan.

The tourism and ecology-focused project envisages a haven for nature enthusiasts across 90 idyllic islands and is one element of a large-scale cultural revival in the kingdom aimed at making tourism a major pillar of the economy.

A high-tech urban development plan, the futuristic city of Neom, has also turned heads globally.

The project aims to revolutionise urban planning, using the latest in smart-city technology and seawater desalination, using giant domes powered by concentrated solar power.

In the UAE, the government aims to double industrial output to $82 billion by 2031, with large-scale investment planned for research and development to make the country into a major player in what economists call the “fourth industrial revolution”.

That encompasses automated industrial production, enhanced “Internet of Things” applications and machine learning.

Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by a delegation of officials, including National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed; Ali Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Council; and Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.

Attending the meeting from the Saudi side were Prince Turki bin Mohammed, Minister of State; Prince Khalid bin Salman, deputy defence minister; and Dr Musaad Al Aiban, Minister of State and National Security Adviser.

Updated: July 20th 2021, 5:06 AM