Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, on Monday began a week-long visit to Washington where he is meeting US officials and members of Congress.
Dr Gargash is the first senior Emirati official to conduct such a visit since Joe Biden assumed the presidency in January.
He met with national security council co-ordinator for the Middle East, Brett McGurk, at the White House. US senior defence and state officials attended the meeting.
He stressed the continuity and strength of US-UAE relations.
”The US and UAE are close friends and important allies who share the same outlook for a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East," Dr Gargash said.
He reaffirmed the Emirates’ desire “to pursue diplomatic solutions to our shared challenges".
During the five-day trip, Dr Gargash is expected to discuss deepening co-operation on pressing global challenges such as climate, the Covid-19 pandemic and nuclear proliferation.
He will also discuss increasing trade and investment between the US and the UAE.
Dr Gargash “will reinforce the UAE's firm commitment to de-escalation and diplomacy in a common quest for a more peaceful and prosperous region", the UAE embassy in Washington said.
UAE Minister of State and ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba is accompanying Dr Gargash in his meetings.
His visit is also the first for a senior UAE diplomat since the signing of the Abraham Accords last September.
The accords normalised UAE relations with Israel, and their signing was praised by the Biden administration and leaders of both political parties.
