Anwar’s visit to the UAE is on an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who is also UAE vice-president and prime minister, to attend the Abu Dhabi sustainability week.

He will also meet the UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, on Monday, according to Malaysia’s ambassador to the UAE, Tengku Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariffin.

A key highlight of Anwar’s visit will be the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the UAE. He will also meet corporate leaders and representatives of major UAE companies.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he will head to London after the UAE visit, for a meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, then proceed to Brussels where he will meet Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo and European Council president Antonio Costa.

He will then lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Accompanying the prime minister on this visit are home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, and higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.