Erdoğan to visit UAE and Ethiopia

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will undertake a two-day official tour to the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, discussing bilateral cooperation and regional issues, including Gaza peace efforts, Horn of Africa instability, and Syria's reconstruction.

According to a statement by the Communication Directorate head, Burhanettin Duran, the President will be in the UAE on Feb. 16 and in Ethiopia on Feb. 17. This tour comes nearly 10 days after Erdoğan’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

“In the meetings that President Erdoğan will hold on Feb. 16 with United Arab Emirates President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, steps aimed at deepening the cooperation between Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, as well as regional and global developments, will be discussed,” Duran stated.

Erdoğan will subsequently travel to Addis Ababa on Feb. 17, at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia, where he will hold official engagements, Duran recalled, “During these visits, the signing of various agreements and documents, for which negotiations have been completed, will also take place.”

One of the top issues to be discussed with the UAE officials will be the implementation of the second stage of the Gaza peace deal led by the United States, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt. Türkiye and the UAE stress that the peace deal should lead to a two-state solution with the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The talks will also include ways to reconstruct war-torn Gaza and ensure that Palestinians will receive a sufficient amount of humanitarian aid. Erdoğan and Sheikh Nahyan will also review the latest developments regarding the establishment of the Board of Peace under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the creation of an international peace force to monitor the peace process between Israel and Hamas.

The leaders will also discuss ways to reduce the tension between Iran and the U.S. to avoid a new escalation in the region. In addition, the unease in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia and Sudan, will also be on the agenda of both leaders.

On economy, Türkiye and the UAE enjoy a nearly $20 billion trade volume with a joint objective of doubling it in the coming period. The Turkish business circles foresee that Erdoğan and Zahyan will take new decisions to advance bilateral economic relations through trade and investments.

The leaders are expected to sign new documents to this end.

Sheikh Zahyan paid a visit to Ankara in July 2025, where the two countries signed seven agreements.