Erdogan Postpones UAE Visit After Health Claim Deleted

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed a planned visit to Abu Dhabi after his office briefly cited health concerns for United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the reason, sparking brief speculation about the UAE leader's condition.

The announcement came in a statement posted on social media by Erdogan's office on Sunday, which noted that he had spoken by phone with Al Nahyan and expressed sadness over the health issue while wishing a swift recovery. The message indicated the trip, originally scheduled for the following day, would be rescheduled for a later date. Turkish state media initially covered the development before the post was deleted shortly after, along with related articles. Officials from Erdogan's office did not immediately provide further details on the deletion.

Al Nahyan, who also serves as ruler of Abu Dhabi, is 66 and maintains an active public schedule, including recent foreign engagements and meetings with international leaders. UAE authorities have not confirmed any health problems. The state news agency WAM reported on the phone conversation between the two presidents but made no mention of an illness or the...