The Emirates signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. Now Israel’s head of government is visiting the new President Mohammed bin Sajid.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a surprise visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

The program also included a meeting with the new President Mohammed bin Sajid, his office said. Sheikh Mohammed succeeded his deceased half-brother Chalifa bin Sajid last month. Bennett had already visited the Emirates for the first time in December. Before leaving, he said: “Today we will take the special relationship between our countries to the next level.”

In 2020, the Emirates and Bahrain became the first Gulf states to sign an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. The rapprochement is aimed primarily at Shiite Iran, in which the Emirates see an archenemy. But economic interests also played a role. Until then, only the neighboring countries of Egypt and Jordan, as Arab states, maintained diplomatic relations with Israel.