Erdogan arrives in Doha in first trip to an Arab country since his election as president

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the Qatari capital Doha late on Saturday night for an official two-day official visit to the Gulf state.

According to the Qatari News Agency, Erdogan and his delegation were welcomed at Doha airport by the Minister of the Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Qatari ambassador in Turkey Salem Mubarak Al-Shafi, and the Turkish ambassador in Doha Ahmet Demirok.

This visit is Erdogan’s first trip to an Arab country and the third foreign trip since his election as president at the end of last month. It comes four day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited the country.

A statement by the Turkish presidency said that Erdogan will meet with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and his father Prince Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The talks will address bilateral relations which “have witnessed a huge leap in different fields”, as well as regional issues of mutual concern.