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Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani meeting with UAE's Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on May 24, 2024. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday for a meeting with United Arab Emirates (UAE) leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (commonly known by his initials MBZ) and to bolster relations.
“I’m delighted to meet my friend,” President Barzani said in a post on X. “We discussed regional developments, further strengthening ties between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the United Arab Emirates, along with other pressing issues.”
Fawzi Hariri, chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told Rudaw’s Sangar Abudlrahman that the visit is “friendly” and follows an official invitation from Sheikh Mohamed.
“The UAE pays special attention to Iraq as a whole and the Kurdistan Region in particular. The UAE and Kurdistan Region relations are not new as both have enjoyed good ties for years,” he said, describing UAE’s consulate in Erbil as “very active.”
“Therefore, our relations are deep,” Hariri added, pointing out that this is part of President Barzani’s efforts to have friendly ties with regional countries. “These are all linked to one another, aiming at the stability of the Kurdistan Region.”
I’m delighted to meet my friend, HH Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed again in Abu Dhabi.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) May 24, 2024
We discussed regional developments, further strengthening ties between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the United Arab Emirates, along with other pressing issues. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq… pic.twitter.com/Ea1a5gnVAw
Sheikh Mohamed supports these efforts by President Barzani, Hariri said.
Hariri on Thursday received UAE Consul General Ahmed Ibrahim al-Dhaheri.
"They focused on enhancing UAE-Iraq relations and explored exciting opportunities to boost trade and investment between the Kurdistan Region-UAE," said the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
The UAE is an economic powerhouse in the Middle East, Gaylan Haji Said, president of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce, told Rudaw’s Bakhtyar Abdulaziz on Friday, commending Erbil’s ties with Abu Dhabi.
“The UAE is the third economic partner of the Kurdistan Region, after Turkey and Iran. The UAE is also an important and strong trade centre in the world,” noted Said.
“The UAE has the same significance for the Kurdistan Region. Furthermore, many Emirate investors have invested in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, we should expand relations and be able to benefit from the experience of the UAE,” he added.
Emirates News Agency (WAM), UAE state media, said Barzani and MBZ discussed "various aspects" of UAE's relations with Iraq as a whole and the Kurdistan Region in particular, and "ways to develop cooperation" between them.
Mohammed al-Arab, head of the Qatar-based Center for Research and Policy Studies, told Rudaw on Friday that “the Kurdistan Region can become a bridge between the Arab world and Europe through Turkey and between [Arab countries] and Asia through Iran.”
Kurdistan Region enjoys good economic and political relations with most Arab countries, as well as Turkey and Iran.
Al-Arab said that the Kurdistan Region is rich with natural resources, but “managing them is more important than the resources themselves.”
“If Kurds can manage these resources and market them, they will really reach a new and important stage,” he said.
The analyst praised President Barzani’s relations as one who “always tries to build bridges” and his “political competence” can improve Kurdistan Region’s ties with the UAE.
Kurdistan Region and the UAE enjoy strong economic ties and Kurdish officials frequently visit the country, especially during special events. President Barzani visited Dubai late last year, attending the UAE National Day.
The UAE-based Dana Gas plays a key role in the production of Kurdistan Region’s natural gas, which is relied on for electricity generation.
President Barzani left Abu Dhabi following his meeting with MBZ.
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