Saudi entertainment chief shares photo of encounter with son of UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed 

The chief of Saudi Arabia’s multibillion-dollar drive to build a world-class entertainment industry posted a photo of himself on social media with the son of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, the UAE National Security Adviser, in a public show of warmth amid strained ties between the two Gulf neighbors.

The picture shared on Instagram on Thursday shows Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, with the young Emirati royal, Sheikh Zayed bin Tahnoon bin Zayed. The two are both wearing dark baseball caps with their arms on each other’s shoulders.

Last month, Alalshikh posted a photo of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, in a friendly embrace with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman. Saudi-UAE relations have frayed in recent months over a variety of issues, including OPEC oil quotas and their support for opposing sides in Yemen’s conflict.

Alalshikh, who was given a mandate by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 10 years ago to build up the kingdom’s near-dormant entertainment industries, praised Sheikh Zayed in his post for demonstrating “the height of character and knowledge.”

The Saudi impresario visited Abu Dhabi late last year, where he met with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Tahnoon, the UAE leader’s brother and one of the most influential figures in the country’s business community.