Abu Dhabi, 13 December 2021 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says he is optimistic after "meaningful and in-depth" talks on Monday with United Arab Emirates' Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. Bennett and Mohammed conducted talks that lasted for more than four hours, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, in the highest-level meeting since the two countries signed a deal to establish official ties last year. Bennett arrived on Sunday on the first official visit by an Israeli prime minister to the Arab Gulf country. At the end of his two-day visit to the Gulf country, Bennett thanked the UAE’s de facto ruler for his “warm hospitality." They had "meaningful, in-depth and straightforward talks about our two nations, about the region and about our economy and technology and what we can do together," he added. "I am flying back to Israel very optimistic that this relationship can set an example of how we can make peace here in the Middle East," Bennett said. The two met in Abu Dhabi and discussed cooperation on the economy, trade and development, the Emirates' WAM news agency reported. A video shared earlier on Monday by Bennett's office showed the two shaking hands before sitting down for talks. In a joint statement published on WAM, the two countries said they will set up a joint fund for research and development to support trade and economic relations as well as look into solutions to challenges such as climate change and clean energy. In September 2020, Israel signed a US-brokered agreement under which the UAE - as well as its neighbour, Bahrain - established diplomatic relations with Israel. Months later, Morocco and Sudan signed similar deals normalizing ties with Israel. Previously, only two Arab states, neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, had maintained diplomatic relations with Israel. In an interview published late on Sunday, Bennett told WAM that the deal established a "new, deep and solid structure for diplomatic, economic and cultural relations" in the region. He said he was "very satisfied" with how cooperation had grown between the two countries and that he looked forward to consolidating the relationship. In the summer, the UAE opened an embassy in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv. The countries also established direct flights. Israel and the UAE expect bilateral economic benefits, but the rapprochement is also seen as an alliance against Iran and its nuclear programme.