Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has praised the achievements of the leaders of the United Arab Emirates as the Gulf country celebrates its national day, which marks the 48th anniversary of its founding.

"It is a day when the people of the country united with their leadership for a better future for the UAE, full of achievements, progress and prosperity," El-Sisi said on Twitter on Monday.

The president was referring to 1971, when the seven gulf emirates united to form the UAE after they gained full independence from Britain.

El-Sisi called Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday to express his good wishes for the country, El-Sisi's spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

The UAE is one of Egypt's key Arab allies.

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