ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Wednesday Saeed al-Hajeri,a newly appointed United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State and Economic Envoy to the Kurdistan Region, discussing ways to expand cooperation between Erbil and the Emirates.

The Emirati delegation, headed by Hajeri, arrived at Erbil International Airport on Wednesday, where they were received by Safeen Dizayee, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations (DFR). The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and economic cooperation between the two sides.

Barzani, after welcoming the delegation, pointed to “the importance of the friendly and special relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the UAE,” thanking UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support and assistance to the Kurdistan Region, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The premier further expressed his gratitude to the Emirati president for Hajeri’s appointment as economic envoy to the Kurdistan Region, “which is a sign of the importance and strength of the bilateral relationship,” the statement added.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani told The New Region in early April that the UAE intends to appoint a special investment envoy to the Kurdistan Region. “The UAE very seriously and passionately wants to have investments in Kurdistan. They will probably in the near future assign someone, a special envoy for investment to Kurdistan. This is a big step forward,” said Nechirvan Barzani in April.

“Pleased to welcome HE Saeed Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State and Special Envoy for Economic Affairs to KR [the Kurdistan Region]. I thanked HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for appointing him, a testament to UAE’s will to build on our friendship,” said the premier shortly after the meeting. “We discussed expanding UAE-Kurdistan cooperation,” Barzani wrote on X.

Prime Minister Barzani met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in February on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, discussing regional developments and stressing the need for “deeper ties” between Erbil and Abu Dhabi.