United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Ankara on 16 July 2025 for a day-long state visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and was welcomed with full military honours at the Presidential Complex. Erdogan and bin Zayed held one-on-one talks aimed at deepening economic, defence and technology ties and reviewed regional developments, including the conflicts in Gaza and Syria. The leaders were due to co-chair the inaugural meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council, a body created in 2023 to formalise cooperation between the two countries. Further investment and defence agreements are expected, underscoring the accelerating rapprochement between Ankara and Abu Dhabi.