Saudi Crown Prince welcomed to UAE in official visit

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived on Wednesday in the UAE, where the Crown Prince is on an official visit.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received the Saudi Crown Prince at Abu Dhabi International Airport upon his arrival on Wednesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman was accorded an official reception upon his arrival at Al Watan Palace in the capital, Abu Dhabi.

Just before the arrival of Prince Mohammed's delegation, Al Fursan, (The Knights), the United Arab Emirates Air Force aerobatic display team, flew over the palace sky, forming the flag of Saudi Arabia. A folklore group also performed folk performances and various heritage songs, and a group of children raised the flag of the two countries to welcome and celebrate the visit.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed accompanied Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the podium of honor and the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and the UAE were played. An artillery gun fired 21 rounds to welcome the Saudi Crown Prince.

Emirati warplanes escorted the plane carrying the Saudi Crown Prince as he entered the airspace of the UAE, in tribute to him.

Earlier, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a statement.

“Welcome to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his country in the UAE, amongst his brothers and his family. Welcome brother and supporter and partner and ally and loved one, welcome to the one who leads an ambitious vision of the size and weight of his country. Welcome Saudi Arabia to the UAE,” Gargash wrote on his official Twitter account.

The Crown Prince is expected to meet with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed where they will discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.

Earlier in the day, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed the Crown Prince had left for the UAE and said that he will meet with several royal family members in Abu Dhabi, as well as a number of government officials. The Crown Prince will represent the Kingdom at the second meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council, added the SPA.

The Crown Prince last visited the UAE last year as part of a regional tour that included a number of Arab countries.

MBS with MBZ (SPA)