Egyptian president arrives in Abu Dhabi

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived in the capital on Thursday to attend National Day celebrations and an international conference on protecting cultural heritage.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, welcomes Abdel Fattah El Sisi, president of Egypt, at the Presidential Flight in Abu Dhabi. Ryan Show more

ABU DHABI // The president of Egypt arrived in the capital on Thursday to attend National Day celebrations and an international conference on protecting cultural heritage.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Abdel Fattah El Sisi at the Presidential Airport.

During the reception the national anthems of both countries were played, followed by a 21-gun salute, reported Wam, the state news agency.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed happiness over the timing of Mr El Sisi’s visit, saying he would share the joy of celebrating National Day, which is on Friday.

Mr El Sisi praised the UAE’s progress and said it had become a model for other Arab nations.

Both stressed the importance of building an Arab strategy involving facing challenges, rallying efforts and stepping up coordination to maintain regional security and stability.

Mr El Sisi is expected to attend a Unesco-backed conference where heads of state and representatives from more than 40 countries will discuss ways to protect heritage sites in areas of war and other conflict.

Irina Bokova, head of Unesco, said the conference in Abu Dhabi this weekend would address what she called “cultural cleansing” amid the rise of extremism and conflict worldwide targeting ethnic -minorities and religions.

“Heritage is one of the tools for peace, heritage is the best way for dialogue among cultures and it gives confidence to people to rebuild. Heritage is part of the identity of the people,” she said.

Attendees will discuss an international fund for cultural preservation programmes and ways to improve the emergency protection of heritage sites.