During an official visit on Thursday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

“We discussed the state of relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the UAE, and exchanged views on the impact of regional developments,” President Nechirvan Barzani posted on X after the meeting.

“We emphasized the importance of reinforcing cooperation to promote stability and security across the region.”

According to the presidency readout, the two leaders focused on strengthening the ties between the UAE, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the importance of promoting cooperation across various sectors to advance the interests and development of both sides.

They also exchanged views on recent regional developments and their implications for security and stability at both the regional and international levels, stressing that sustained cooperation and stronger coordination are essential to preserving peace and countering emerging threats.

Following the outbreak of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran on February 28, both the UAE and the Kurdistan Region were targeted by hundreds of drone and missile attacks. In the Kurdistan Region, 20 people were killed.

During the conflict, the UAE Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region was also targeted with drones, a move strongly condemned by the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.