ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday, during which the two leaders discussed regional and global developments, according to a statement.
Erdogan underscored the importance Ankara attaches to strengthening cooperation with the UAE across several sectors, particularly trade, energy, and security.
The Turkish president reaffirmed Turkiye’s “full support” for the sovereignty and security of the UAE.
President @RTErdogan spoke by phone with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The call addressed the Türkiye-UAE bilateral relations, as well as regional and global matters.
President Erdoğan highlighted the importance Türkiye attaches to enhancing its cooperation…
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) May 9, 2026
Referring to the hardships experienced in the region amid tensions between Iran and the United States, Erdogan described the developments as “regrettable” and stressed that Turkiye is continuing diplomatic contacts with relevant countries to help establish a diplomatic solution between Washington and Tehran.
He further emphasised that greater dialogue and cooperation are needed to address the region’s security challenges and preserve regional stability.
The call comes as part of deepening engagement between Ankara and Abu Dhabi. Just a day earlier, Erdogan met with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Istanbul to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The UAE is Turkiye’s largest trade partner in the Gulf, with bilateral trade volume reaching approximately
A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2023 has played a significant role in expanding non-oil trade between the two nations .
The leaders’ discussion reflects a broader recalibration of regional alliances. After years of strained relations marked by geopolitical rivalry, Turkiye and the UAE began a phase of pragmatic engagement starting in 2021, driven by shared economic interests and a changing regional landscape.
