The meeting was held during the second stop of Abdelatty’s tour of several Arab countries at the behest of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to strengthen coordination with Arab partners and address the growing security challenges facing the region.
At the start of the talks, Abdelatty conveyed El-Sisi’s greetings to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, delivering a message of full support and solidarity from the Egyptian leadership, government, and people to the leadership and people of the UAE in light of what Cairo described as the difficult circumstances and unprecedented challenges confronting the country and the wider region.
The Egyptian minister stressed the depth of the historical ties between Egypt and the UAE and reaffirmed Cairo’s pride in the longstanding relations linking the two countries and their peoples.
According to the spokesman for the foreign ministry, Ambassador Tamim Khalaf, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s strong condemnation of what he described as Iranian attacks targeting the UAE's sovereignty, economic assets, and vital infrastructure.
He also praised what he described as the Emirati leadership’s measured and responsible response to the recent developments, noting its restraint in the face of attacks and violations aimed at undermining the UAE’s security and stability.
Abdelatty offered condolences for the victims of the recent attacks and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
The Egyptian minister also condemned the targeting of the UAE consulate in Erbil by drones for the second time within a week, stressing that attacks on diplomatic missions represent a flagrant violation of international law and diplomatic norms.
He said no justification could legitimize such actions, describing them as serious breaches of international law and the UN Charter. Moreover, he emphasized that the UAE's security is integral to Egypt's national security, as well as that of the Gulf and Arab states.
The two sides discussed the ongoing regional escalation and its repercussions, including the widening scope of the conflict and its extension to the UAE and other Gulf states.
Abdelatty warned of the dangers of further escalation and stressed the importance of de-escalation. He called for an immediate halt to attacks targeting the UAE and other Gulf countries.
He also underlined the need to develop practical mechanisms to implement preventive and defensive measures to safeguard Arab national security, including advancing a workable concept of collective Arab security to address the region’s unprecedented challenges.
Additionally, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation between Egypt and the UAE. They stressed the importance of exploiting the current momentum in relations to expand partnerships across multiple sectors.
The visit comes amid a sharp escalation in regional tensions following a series of attacks targeting Gulf states, including strikes on economic and energy infrastructure as well as diplomatic facilities. Several Arab countries have strongly condemned the attacks and warned that the widening confrontation risks destabilizing the broader Middle East.
Egypt has repeatedly called for de-escalation and respect for state sovereignty, while emphasizing the need to strengthen Arab coordination in the face of growing regional security threats. Cairo has also revived discussions in recent months about developing a more practical framework for collective Arab security, including closer political, security, and defense cooperation among Arab states.
Relations between Egypt and the UAE have deepened significantly over the past decade. The two countries closely coordinate on regional security issues; they have also expanded cooperation in the economic and development sectors. The UAE remains one of Egypt’s largest investment partners, with Emirati investments in Egypt exceeding $35 billion across sectors including energy, real estate, logistics, and infrastructure.
The meeting in Al Ain also comes as Arab capitals intensify diplomatic consultations to contain the current escalation and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond the Gulf region.
Short link: