Turkey's Erdogan ends Gulf tour with Abu Dhabi visit

FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a press conference during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan visited the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday as he toured wealthy Gulf Arab nations for investment and funds, hoping to revive Turkey's economy which has struggled with a weakened lira, heavy deficits and chronic inflation.

Abu Dhabi is Erdogan's last stop in a Gulf tour that included the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah and Doha. Reaping the benefits of his diplomatic efforts, Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday to buy Turkish drones in the biggest defence contract in Turkey's history.