His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will postpone his state visit to Japan, originally planned from Sunday to February 10, Japanese government sources confirmed Monday.
The UAE formally requested the rescheduling.
Last-minute postponements of state visits by foreign leaders are uncommon in Japan. During the trip, His Highness was expected to meet Emperor Naruhito, attend a palace banquet, and hold discussions with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The decision follows rising tensions in the Middle East, including the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the region aimed at encouraging Iran to engage in nuclear negotiations, which has elicited a strong response from Tehran.
