Latest: Sheikh Mohamed holds talks with Turkey's President Erdogan in Abu Dhabi
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for his first official visit to the UAE in almost a decade.
He was met by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, along with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, state news agency Wam reported.
Mr Erdogan will spend two days in the Emirates to boost ties between the two countries.
Television cameras showed the Turkish leader's journey through the city to Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace.
In the palace's main hall, an honour guard saluted and a military band played the national anthems of both nations in the presence of Mr Erdogan and Sheikh Mohamed.
On Tuesday, Mr Erdogan is expected at Expo 2020 Dubai for Turkey's national day of celebrations.
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, earlier said Mr Erdogan's visit to the UAE "opens a new positive page in the bilateral relations between the two countries, and is in line with the UAE's direction towards strengthening bridges of communication and cooperation aimed at stability and prosperity in the region."
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Mr Erdogan in Ankara two months ago, in his first visit to Turkey in close to a decade.
During the visit, the UAE announced it was setting up a $10 billion investment fund in Turkey.
The visit and investment pledge marked a significant improvement in relations. Monday's visit is expected to cement those efforts, with ties expected to enter a new phase.
The UAE is Turkey’s top trading partner among the GCC countries. Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2020 reached $8 billion.
The UAE leadership believes that strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries will contribute to regional stability, prosperity and peace, news agency Wam reported.
Earlier this month it was announced Mr Erdogan, 67, had contracted Covid-19 shortly after a visit to Ukraine. He had only mild symptoms and put this down to him being fully vaccinated and having received the booster.
President Erdogan arrives in UAE - in pictures
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Erdogan pictured at Abu Dhabi airport's presidential terminal. Photo: Turkish President Press Office -
President Erdogan arrives in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Turkish President Press Office -
Turkish President Erdogan's motorcade arrives at Qasr Al Qatan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Turkish President Press Office -
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, second right, arrive at Qasr Al-Watan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. Erdogan traveled Monday to the United Arab Emirates, a trip signaling a further thaw in relations strained over the two nations' approaches to Islamists in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring. (AP Photo / Jon Gambrell) -
President Erdogan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed inspect over an honour guard at Qasr Al Watan. AP Photo / Jon Gambrell -
President Erdogan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed inspect an honour guard at Qasr Al Watan -
President Erdogan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed inspect an honour guard at Qasr Al Watan -
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and Mehmet Muş, Turkish Minister of Commerce. Photo: WAM -
Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. Photo: WAM -
Dr Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minster of Health and Prevention and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: WAM -
Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: WAM
Speaking to journalists after Friday prayers, he said: “I overcame it very, very easily. It was certainly because of the vaccination. I had two doses of CoronaVac, a Chinese-made inactive vaccine and three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
"It only took a few days before my test turned negative."
His wife has also made a full recovery.
Mr Erdogan was last on an official visit to the Emirates in February 2013 for the Government Communication Forum in Sharjah.
Growing Turkish community upbeat
Ahmet Kayhan, adviser to the chairman of Dogus Group – one of Turkey’s largest conglomerates, said that efforts to improve UAE and Turkey relations would benefit businesses.
“There’s been a lot of interest from businesses for investment," said Mr Kayhan, who is also chief executive of Dubai-based Reidin Real Estate Information.
“In the last couple of months, we’ve seen an increasing interest by Turkish companies wanting to set up businesses in the UAE.
“I think this will continue, especially in the real estate market because the UAE offers one of the strongest real estate markets in the world that is high yield, high rental yield and a strong currency.”
Yahya Tosun, partner of the Tosun Dental Clinic in Dubai's Jumeirah district, moved to the UAE from Turkey in 2004. He said that the Turkish and Emirati peoples are natural friends and partners.
He believes that more professionals would like to explore opportunities in the UAE now that relations between the two countries are improving.
“From my industry's point of view, what I'm seeing is that there are more doctors who are interested in joining UAE healthcare," he said.
“There is also a huge interest from Turkish population, such as entrepreneurs who want to come and open major restaurants or hotels.
“It is also because of the cultural resemblance between Turkey and the UAE, so we feel more attracted by the UAE.
“The Turkish population is growing in Dubai. When I came here in 2004, it was only a few thousands, and now it’s more than 20,000.”
