Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has officially extended a written invitation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Tehran, following efforts to improve relations with neighbors and secure the region.

The UAE’s official news agency, WAM, reported on Thursday that Iran’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Reza Ameri, handed over the Iranian president’s official invitation to UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen al-Marar during a meeting on Wednesday.

The invitation comes amid efforts by Tehran and Abu Dhabi to rebuild their diplomatic relations. The UAE downgraded its relations with Iran in 2016 after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Back in August, Raeisi said that the Islamic Republic is determined and open to the expansion of relations with the United Arab Emirates, stressing that Tehran sees no obstacles to the promotion of such ties, particularly trade and economic ones.

Abu Dhabi downgraded its relations with Tehran in 2016 after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran. However, Iran and Saudi Arabia in March agreed to restore their diplomatic relations after a seven-year break based on a China-mediated agreement.

The UAE reinstated its ambassador to Iran last September while Iran appointed Ameri as its new ambassador to the UAE in April.