Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Sunday that his planned visit to United Arab Emirates was postponed due to a “health problem” affecting Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The announcement was made in a post on X but was quickly deleted. Erdogan expressed his concern and wished the leader a speedy recovery.
The deleted X post noted that Erdogan had spoken with Al Nahyan by phone and would reschedule the visit for a later, undetermined date. Despite the deletion, the message was picked up by Turkish state media before being removed. The Turkish state broadcaster also removed an article referencing Al Nahyan’s health.
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The official Emirati news agency, WAM, reported the phone conversation but did not mention any postponement of Erdogan’s visit. Photographs released by Al Nahyan’s team on Saturday show him smiling and meeting Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, suggesting he is in good health.
Neither the Turkish presidency nor the Emirati authorities have provided further clarification on the matter. AFP noted that questions sent to both offices regarding Al Nahyan’s health and the postponed visit have not been answered. The situation has raised questions about the accuracy of the initial Turkish announcement.
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Analysts say the episode highlights sensitivities in diplomatic communications between Turkiye and the UAE. Officials are expected to reschedule the visit once both sides confirm arrangements, but no official date has been provided. The brief controversy underscores how quickly messaging can become politicized in international relations.