Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warmly welcomed his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, at the Cairo International Airport on April 12th. The Emirati leader arrived with a delegation consisting of the UAE’s Vice President and several ministers.

In a tweet, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan stated that he and President al-Sisi “explored opportunities to further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between” their countries, and discussed their “shared interest in promoting regional stability and progress.”

The relationship between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates has been significant, with both countries celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations last year. The UAE and other Arab Gulf states have been crucial in providing aid to the Egyptian government, as Cairo has faced a daunting economic crisis.

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In the past year, Cairo’s foreign reserves have fallen by about 20 percent to $34.45 billion, with around $28 billion of these reserves coming from wealthy Gulf donors in the form of deposits.

President al-Sisi has relied on financial assistance from Gulf Arab states since taking power in 2013, with estimates suggesting that over $100 billion in Gulf money has been provided to Egypt through Central Bank deposits, fuel aid, and other support.

However, in recent weeks, Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed a desire to see more reforms from countries receiving their aid. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan highlighted this at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stating that reforms are needed from aid-receiving countries, as Gulf nations are taxing their people and expect others to make efforts as well.

These developments could potentially impact Egypt, which is already under pressure from the International Monetary Fund to implement reforms. President al-Sisi recently visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of ongoing efforts to address these concerns. Furthermore, Cairo serves as the headquarters of the Arab League and recently welcomed Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, who visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since the civil war in Syria broke out.

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These visits are part of broader efforts, led by the UAE, to reintegrate Syria into the Arab fold, with a meeting scheduled in Jeddah to discuss the potential attendance of President Bashar Al-Assad’s Syrian government at an upcoming Arab League summit next month.

The visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan to Egypt and the ongoing relationship between Egypt and the UAE underscore the significance of their bilateral ties. However, recent discussions around reforms and financial assistance from Gulf Arab states could have potential implications for Egypt’s economy and political dynamics.