ABU DHABI // The Egyptian prime minister, Hazem Al Beblawi, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday on an official visit and promptly thanked the UAE for supporting his country.

Mr Al Beblawi was welcomed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, and Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, among other dignitaries.

He will hold talks with senior government officials to discuss ways of boosting relations, state news agency Wam said.

Mr Al Beblawi said: “The UAE has been extending support to Egypt in political, economic and investment fronts.

“Moreover, UAE diplomacy played a key role in rallying support for the revolution among several countries and, needless to say, its financial support has helped Egypt avert many crises.”

The talks follow on from August, when the UAE sent a delegation to Cairo to meet Mr Al Beblawi as he was made interim prime minister.

That delegation was led by Mr Al Jaber and talks focused on ways the UAE could assist in projects in Egypt.

Mr Al Beblawi is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation including the deputy prime minister, Ziad Ahmed Bahaa-Eldind.

Meanwhile, a preparatory workshop for the GCC-Egyptian Economic Forum, set for December in Cairo, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Officials from a number of countries were present to discuss the forum, which aims to support GCC investment in Egypt.

mswan@thenational.ae