ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pose for a picture during an official welcome ceremony on Tuesday. - AFP

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed on with a Gulf tour yesterday, arriving in the UAE from Oman, where the two sides signed agreements potentially totaling $30 billion, and will also visit Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. In Dubai, Prince Mohammed paid a visit yesterday to the site of Expo 2020 a day after meeting and dining with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed.

Security was tight at the Expo, where the lavish Saudi pavilion was closed to visitors and a small crowd of onlookers, including women in black robes, gathered outside. Saudi songs, including one with the lyrics "Welcome Mohammed", were playing on the loudspeaker at Al Wasl Plaza, the site's central venue.

"The excellent relations between our countries keep growing stronger," Abu Dhabi's crown prince said after meeting Prince Mohammed on Tuesday, according to the UAE's official WAM news agency. "Saudi Arabia has been, and will always be a key regional player." Prince Mohammed's visit to Doha will be the first since the two sides severed ties four years ago at the start of a blockade of Qatar that was only resolved in January. - AFP