SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Sept 28 to 30, as part of Singapore's ongoing engagement with countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

In Abu Dhabi, Dr Maliki and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed Bin Ahmad Al Bawardi reaffirmed the warm and friendly ties between Singapore and the UAE, and discussed ways for both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement on Saturday (Sept 30).

Dr Maliki was also hosted to dinner by the minister of state.

Dr Maliki also met Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of the Government of Abu Dhabi and Co-Chair of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak.

They had a wide-ranging exchange of views on recent developments in the Middle East, and East and South-east Asia.

Dr Maliki, at his meeting with Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Committee Office Jassem Mohammed Al Zaabi, discussed ways in which Singapore and Abu Dhabi could learn from, and cooperate with, each other as regional economic hubs.

During a visit to the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), SMS Maliki was briefed on ADGM's plans for the development of the financial services sector in Abu Dhabi.

In Dubai, Dr Maliki met a group of Singaporean businessmen and discussed economic opportunities for Singapore companies looking to the UAE and Middle East markets.

He will depart the UAE for Saudi Arabia later on Saturday afternoon.