The United Arab Emirates is counting on Turkey seeking to increase bilateral trade and improve relations, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi told Bloomberg.

The UAE hopes to double or triple trade with Turkey, which it sees as a route to new markets thanks to its logistics network.

The remarks came after Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed announced a $10 billion fund to invest in Turkey in November during the UAE's first high-level visit since 2012.

Relations between the two countries have been severely strained since the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar by Arab countries, including the UAE, which lasted from mid-2017 until early last year. Doha is one of Ankara's closest allies.

The UAE and Turkey have supported opposing sides in the Libyan conflict, where a fragile ceasefire has been in effect since October 2020. The UAE's relations with Turkey have also been strained by the role of Islamist groups in the unrest that followed the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

In the past year, Turkey has made efforts to restore relations with the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The UAE has accelerated its desire to move away from regional conflicts and refocus on the economy.