ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrived in Dubai on Monday to partake in the World Governments Summit at the invitation of the Emirati government, where he is set to meet senior officials to boost Erbil’s ties with the international community. 

“The Prime Minister, on the sidelines of the summit, will hold a series of meetings with senior Emirati officials and leaders of participating countries to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and developments in Iraq and the region,” the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement.

Barzani’s participation in the summit came at the invitation of UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai. 

Relations between Abu Dhabi and Erbil have seen major improvements under the KRG’s ninth cabinet. 

In October, Prime Minister Barzani received an Emirati delegation in Erbil to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation and more than 30 Emirati initiatives "designed to bring UAE expertise to the Kurdistan Region."

A month prior, the Emirati government appointed Minister of State Saeed Mubarak Rashid al-Hajeri as the ministry’s Envoy for Special Affairs to the Kurdistan Region.

The World Governments Summit is a “global, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments,” according to its website.

Barzani has taken part in several of the summit’s previous editions, significantly boosting the KRG’s ties with the international community during his meetings with world officials on the sidelines of the event.