Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi sent a thank you letter to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for the warm welcome given to the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, during his recent visit to the UAE. A statement issued by the Ittihadiya presidential palace said that President Morsi also praised the President of the UAE for the release of several Egyptians detained in UAE prisons, describing it as a "dignified gesture." Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed announced the immediate release of more than 100 Egyptians political prisoners last week, in a gesture towards easing strained ties over political crackdowns on groups allegedly linked to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.