Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty began a diplomatic tour of several Gulf states on Sunday under directives from Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as Cairo seeks to coordinate positions with Arab partners and push for de-escalation amid rapidly intensifying regional tensions.
The tour, which began in the Qatari capital Doha before continuing to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, comes against the backdrop of growing military escalation in the region and recent attacks attributed to Iran on several Gulf targets. Egyptian officials say the visit aims to convey a message of solidarity with Arab states while strengthening diplomatic coordination to prevent further deterioration in regional security.
During his first stop in Doha, Abdelatty met with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to deliver a message from President Sisi expressing Egypt’s full support for Qatar and its solidarity with Gulf nations facing recent security threats. The Egyptian foreign minister conveyed Cairo’s strong condemnation of attacks targeting Qatari sovereignty and infrastructure, describing them as violations of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
According to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty emphasized that the security of Qatar and the Gulf states forms an integral part of Egyptian and broader Arab national security. He warned that continued military escalation risks expanding the conflict and destabilizing the wider Middle East.
Qatar’s emir, for his part, asked that his greetings and appreciation be conveyed to President Sisi, praising Egypt’s consistent positions in support of Arab stability and its central role in safeguarding regional security.
Abdelatty also held talks with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where the two sides exchanged views on the evolving security situation in the region. The discussions focused on the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to halt hostilities and protect critical infrastructure, including maritime routes and energy facilities.
The Egyptian minister warned that continued escalation could threaten freedom of navigation and vital economic installations across the region. He also called for strengthening mechanisms of joint Arab action, including discussions about activating collective defense frameworks and potentially establishing a joint Arab force capable of responding to emerging security challenges.
Qatari officials expressed deep appreciation for Egypt’s support and commended Cairo’s diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis and promote Arab solidarity at a time of what they described as unprecedented regional pressures.
From Doha, Abdelatty traveled to the United Arab Emirates for the second leg of his tour, where he held talks in the city of Al Ain with Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During the meeting, he conveyed President Sisi’s greetings and a message of full support from the Egyptian leadership, government, and people to the leadership and citizens of the UAE amid the ongoing tensions.
The Egyptian minister reiterated Cairo’s firm condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting Emirati sovereignty, economic resources, and vital facilities. He also expressed condolences to the victims of recent incidents and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.
Egypt further condemned an attack involving drones targeting the Emirati consulate in Erbil for the second time within a week, stressing that attacks on diplomatic missions constitute serious violations of international law and established diplomatic norms.
During the discussions, Abdelatty praised the Emirati leadership’s restraint and measured response during recent days of heightened tensions. Both sides reviewed the broader regional implications of the escalating conflict and emphasized the importance of immediate steps to halt attacks on Gulf states and prevent further expansion of hostilities.
The talks also addressed the need to develop practical mechanisms to protect Arab national security through stronger collective defense measures and closer political coordination among Arab governments.
In addition to security concerns, the ministers discussed expanding bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the UAE, seeking to build on the strong momentum in relations between the two countries. Both sides stressed the importance of deepening partnerships across economic, political, and development sectors in ways that reflect the deep historical ties between their peoples.
Later Sunday, Abdelatty departed for Muscat, the capital of Oman, for the third leg of his regional tour. Egyptian officials said the visit aims to deliver a message of solidarity with Oman and coordinate positions with regional partners on efforts to reduce tensions.
Talks in Muscat are expected to focus on diplomatic initiatives aimed at calming the current crisis and advancing a coordinated Arab response to protect regional stability. Egyptian officials have repeatedly emphasized that the security and stability of Arab states remain inseparable from Egypt’s own national security.
The tour reflects Cairo’s broader diplomatic push to prevent the widening of conflict in the Middle East at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, with Egyptian officials stressing that political dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to restoring stability and preventing the region from sliding into broader chaos.
