Qatar FM meets Abu Dhabi crown prince in UAE

Qatar's foreign minister visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday, where he met with Abu Dhabi's crown prince as part of efforts to improve ties between two Gulf states.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was hosted by de facto UAE ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where the pair discussed "ways to enhance them (ties) to serve the interests of their nations", the UAE's WAM news agency reported.

The meeting follows a similar visit by UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a brother of Sheikh Mohamed, to Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January to end their diplomatic boycott of Qatar, which had been the subject of a blockade by the Saudi-led bloc since 2017.

The bloc had accused Doha of supporting terrorism and fostering close ties with Iran - charges that Doha has vehemently denied.

Riyadh and Cairo have led efforts to mend ties and appointed ambassadors to Qatar, while Abu Dhabi and Manama have yet to do so. Bahrain is yet to restore travel and trade links to Qatar.

The Gulf states have been pursuing a more moderate approach to defuse regional tensions, including with their rivals Iran and Turkey, as the United States reduced its military power in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely heavily on Washington for their security.