Dubai: Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, according to Nour News, a publication connected to Iran's top security body.

He is in Abu Dhabi at a time when relations between Iran and the Gulf states are improving. Last week, Shamkhani participated in negotiations mediated by China that led to the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran after they had been cut off in 2016.

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the finance minister of Saudi Arabia, said that Saudi investment in Iran could take place "very quickly" as a result of the agreement reached last week when the news of the visit broke.

Also Read: UK launches multi-billion dollar initiative to encourage people to return to work

Since Abu Dhabi's ambassador returned to Iran in September, more than six years ago, Shamkhani's visit to the UAE demonstrates the strengthening of relations between Tehran and Abu Dhabi.

Business and trade relations between the UAE and Iran date back more than a century, with the emirate of Dubai serving as one of Iran's primary gateways to the outside world for a long time.

According to Nour News, Shamkhani will visit Abu Dhabi on Thursday in response to an official invitation from his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to discuss various local, regional, and global issues.

Also Read:  US and Russian military chiefs re-engage in conversation about drones 

The Supreme National Security Council secretary will travel to the UAE with top economic, banking, and security officials, it was added. Al-Jadaan claimed Iran offered investment opportunities while speaking at the first private sector forum of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

Iran offers numerous opportunities for Saudi investments. As long as the terms of any agreement are upheld, we don't see any obstacles. said Al-Jadaan.

The start of joint maritime exercises in the Gulf of Oman with the Russian and Iranian navies was announced on Wednesday. China, which hosted the most recent round of Saudi-Iranian talks, hosted the discussions.

Also Read:  For the first time researchers produce mice from the cells of two males

The exercises are the fourth of their kind since the three nations began such operations in 2019. They will last until Sunday.