Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, who arrived in the country on Wednesday for a two-day state visit.
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman was accorded an official reception upon his arrival at Al Watan Palace in the capital, Abu Dhabi.
Just before the arrival of Prince Mohammed’s delegation, Al Fursan, (The Knights), the United Arab Emirates Air Force aerobatic display team, flew over the palace sky, forming the flag of Saudi Arabia.
A folklore group also performed folk performances and various heritage songs, and a group of children raised the flag of the two countries to welcome and celebrate the visit.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed accompanied Prince Mohammed to the podium of honour and played the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Afterwards, an artillery gun fired 21 rounds to welcome the visit of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Al Fursan aerobatic team flew over the palace sky in Abu Dhabi.
Emirati warplanes escorted the plane carrying the Saudi Crown Prince as he entered the airspace of the UAE, in tribute to him.
Prince Mohammed shook hands with his senior officials, who welcomed his visit to his second homeland, the UAE.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed also shook hands with ministers and senior officials within the delegation accompanying Prince Mohammed.
“Mohammed Bin Salman and I witnessed the exchange of 4 MoUs and reviewed 7 strategic initiatives during a Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council meeting,” Mohamed Bin Zayed tweeted.
Dr Anwar Bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on Twitter, “Welcome to Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in UAE… We welcome you, the brothers, the family, the partner and ally. We welcome the man who leads an ambitious vision for his country…”
Royal guards escort Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the palace in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman have presided over the second meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting comes as part of the efforts by the two countries to activate all aspects of cooperation that leads to full integration in economy, knowledge and human development, and military.
All members of the Council, Chairpersons of the Executive Committee and the General Secretariat of the Executive Committee participated in the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed welcome Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and said, "My dear brother and friend Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is a pleasure to welcome you among your people in the UAE and through you I extend greetings to the fraternal Saudi people and wish further progress, prosperity and stability for the Saudi Arabia's leadership, government and people."