Kurdish leaders on Thursday received a delegation from the UAE and underlined the close ties between the Gulf state and the Kurdistan Region, after the UAE appointed a special envoy to the Kurdistan Region.
The delegation was headed by UAE Minister of State Saeed al-Hajeri, who was recently appointed Special Envoy for Economic Affairs to 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,” Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani posted on X.
Pleased to welcome HE Saeed Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State and Special Envoy for Economic Affairs to KR. I thanked HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for appointing him, a testament to UAE’s will to build on our friendship.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) September 11, 2025
We discussed expanding UAE-Kurdistan cooperation. pic.twitter.com/OOhREyOMLu
During the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the significance of appointing a dedicated envoy for economic affairs as a strong signal of the UAE’s commitment to bilateral relations.
Minister al-Hajeri stressed that the Kurdistan Region holds a unique and important place in the UAE’s leadership vision, and pointed to the wide opportunities available for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors.
In a separate meeting on Thursday, the UAE delegation also met with President Masoud Barzani, who thanked the UAE leadership for their continuous support and assistance to the Kurdistan Region, especially during the arrival of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons to the region in 2014.
The delegation also met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani the day before, who praised the “appointment of a UAE special envoy for economic affairs to the Kurdistan Region as a significant milestone that underscores the importance of their bilateral relations.”
President Nechirvan Barzani also conveyed his appreciation to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who, during a meeting in April in Abu Dhabi, had highlighted the necessity of appointing a special UAE envoy to promote investment in the Kurdistan Region.
