The visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, to Cairo and his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi came at a time filled with developments that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East in the upcoming period.

The meeting between the Egyptian and Emirati leaders at the Al Ittihadiya Palace in the Egyptian capital took place one day after the announcement of an agreement to halt the war between the United States and Iran and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

It also came hours before they headed to participate in the G7 summit, where US President Donald Trump is expected to hold separate meetings with Sisi, Mohammed bin Zayed, and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The visit reflects the importance of coordination between Cairo and Abu Dhabi at a stage in which issues of regional security, Arab Iranian relations, and the future of political and security arrangements that may emerge after the end of the war are intertwined.

The official spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El Shennawy, said that the visit comes within the framework of ongoing and close consultations between the leaderships of the two countries, stressing the special nature of Egyptian Emirati relations and their firmly established strategic character.

He noted that the two presidents welcomed the agreement reached regarding the cessation of the war with Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. They also discussed a number of regional issues of mutual interest and agreed on the importance of continuing coordination of Arab positions in order to safeguard the security and interests of Arab states in the upcoming period.

The Emirati and Egyptian delegations, chaired by Sisi and bin Zayed, during their meeting in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency)

Post-war coordination

A member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ashraf Harbi, told Annahar that Egyptian Emirati coordination is gaining major importance at this stage, particularly regarding regional developments, the post war phase, and Arab Iranian and Gulf Iranian relations.

The former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister indicates that a key part of the discussions also relates to aligning Egyptian and Emirati perspectives on the issues that will be raised during the upcoming meetings with the US President in France.

He notes that the meeting between Trump, Sisi, and bin Zayed carries special significance because it brings together a number of the most influential leaders in the region with the President of the United States at a time when the contours of the next phase and relations with Iran are being shaped.

Strategic partnership and shared vision

On his part, Emirati political analyst and journalist Mohammed Al Taqi told Al Nahar that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to Egypt reflects the depth of strategic relations between the two countries and comes at a highly significant political moment.

He believes that the UAE and Egypt represent two key pillars of security and stability in the region. The UAE has an influential diplomatic presence, while Egypt holds Arab weight and a pivotal position in regional files.

He points out that the visit comes within the context of ongoing coordination on Middle East issues, especially after the US Iranian agreement, confirming the existence of a shared vision between Abu Dhabi and Cairo to maintain stability and prevent escalation.

He adds that cooperation between the two countries goes beyond current circumstances, as it is based on a firmly rooted strategic partnership grounded in unity of positions, exchange of views, and joint work to protect the security and stability of the region.

Visit garners widespread attention

Immediately after the announcement of the UAE President’s visit to Egypt, the visit received broad attention in Egyptian media, which focused on its political implications and its regional timing.

Al Masry Al Youm newspaper published a report titled After his latest visit today 20 visits by the UAE President to Egypt over the past 11 years, in which it reviewed milestones of reciprocal visits since 2015.

Over those years, Egyptian Emirati relations have witnessed further deepening at the political, economic, and strategic levels, built on a legacy of close ties established by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates.