UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is due on Monday in Washington for a first official visit at a time of soaring tensions in the Middle East, seeking to highlight economic and technological cooperation, AFP reports.

Presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said the Emiratis, who want to reorient their economy away from oil and towards new technologies such as AI, were thinking “economy first, prosperity first” in their “strategic relationship” with the United States.

Sheikh Mohamed is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running to succeed Biden, the White House said.

US officials said the top agenda items were the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and the conflict in Sudan, where the UAE has been accused of backing one of the warring parties — a charge it denies.

Speaking to journalists this week, Gargash said that without ignoring “things happening in Gaza or things happening in other areas”, the president’s visit will focus on deepening business and technological ties.