Abu dhabi: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to engage in discussions regarding significant regional issues such as Gaza and Syria, and to further enhance bilateral relations, as stated by Turkish diplomatic sources.

According to Anadolu Agency, this visit marks Fidan's return to the Gulf country since his last visit in May, where he was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During his visit, Fidan is anticipated to explore Trkiye's intent to broaden its cooperative endeavors with the UAE. Discussions will also focus on efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and establish lasting peace in Gaza, following a plan announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this week.

Fidan's agenda will further include highlighting the necessity of supporting the Syrian government to foster stability and development within the nation, which has been ravaged by conflict for years.

In terms of bilateral ties, during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the UAE in July 2023, an agreement was reached to form a High-Level Strategic Council, thus elevating the relationship between the two nations to a strategic partnership. The inaugural meeting of the Trkiye-UAE High-Level Strategic Council took place in Ankara this July, co-chaired by Erdogan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed. Currently, the trade volume between Trkiye and the UAE, which stands as Trkiye's largest trading partner in the Gulf, has approached nearly $16 billion in 2024.

Additionally, Fidan is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to participate in an international conference hosted in the city of AlUla.