Sheikh Al Maktoum on official visit to Djibouti

 
UAE defense minister, holds talks with Djibouti president, due to visit port, airport of Djibouti managed by DPA.

 
DJIBOUTI - United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister of defense and heir apparent of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed Ben Rached Al Maktoum, on Monday paid a brief official visit to Djibouti, Radio Djibouti said.

The visit was the first to Djibouti by a high-ranking official from the UAE since the president of the tiny Horn of Africa state, Ismael Omar Guelleh, visited Dubai in May 2000, officials here said.

Al-Maktoum held talks with Guelleh and was also due to visit the port and airport of Djibouti, managed by the Dubai Port Authority (DPA).

Djibouti has signed two agreements - one in May 2000 and another in June this year - placing its port, which sits at the mouth of the Red Sea and its outlet to the Gulf of Aden, and airport under the management of the DPA for a 20-year period.

Other key infrastructure projects, including the development of a vast duty free business zone and an oil port, are either being researched or been launched in Djibouti with UAE funding.

Al-Maktoum was expected to leave Djibouti late Monday.

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