Qatari emir makes unannounced visit to the UAE

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday on what the Qatar News Agency described as a "short fraternal visit to the United Arab Emirates".

The emir of Qatar and his accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said QNA.

The emir was also greeted by other Emirati officials as well as Qatar's ambassador to the UAE, Hadi bin Nasser al-Hajri and staff of the Qatari embassy.

The Qatari emir last visited the UAE in June 2015. 

Relations between the two states, which share a naval border and are both members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and OPEC, have been turbulent in the past.

In March 2014, the UAE along with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, recalled its ambassador from Doha.

At the time, conflicting foreign policies - especially in the wake of the Arab Spring wave of uprisings - were widely blamed, with the two countries supporting opposite sides in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

However, growing geopolitical risks from Syria to Yemen, the rise of the Islamic State group and the collapse of of oil prices have brought the GCC members closer together.

Though differences continue over a number of issues, relations between Doha and Abu Dhabi have since improved, with the two countries fighting side by side as part of the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen against Houthi rebels.