Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Saudi Arabia and UAE

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, greeted Mr Putin in Abu Dhabi (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday before leaving for Saudi Arabia in a one-day lightning tour intended to raise Moscow’s profile as a Middle East power broker, even as his war in Ukraine grinds on.

Mr Putin landed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms now hosting the United Nations’ Cop28 climate talks.