“Both presidents will discuss the UAE’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the latest developments in the region, and several issues of mutual interest,” said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
The Kurdistan Region and the UAE enjoy strong economic ties and Kurdish officials frequently visit the country, particularly during special events.
In May of last year, President Barzani met Nahyan during a trip to Abu Dhabi, which also focused on regional developments and expanding bilateral ties.
Fawzi Hariri, chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told Rudaw at the time that the UAE “pays special attention to Iraq as a whole and the Kurdistan Region in particular.”
“Our relations are deep,” Hariri affirmed.
The UAE is also among the top three economic partners of the Kurdistan Region, behind Turkey and Iran, with Emirati investors increasingly flocking to expand their businesses to the Kurdistan Region’s market.
In February, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani signed a technology deal with the UAE during a Dubai visit.
Following the agreement, UAE Consul Ahmed al-Dhaheri told Rudaw that the deal will be followed by “many more economic and investment agreements in the near future, particularly in the electricity sector and the use of solar energy.”
The investment volume between Erbil and Abu Dhabi has exceeded $2 billion, according to Dhaheri.
