Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to make a brief visit on Sunday to Qatar, Iran’s closest ally among the Gulf Arab states, the Iranian ambassador in Doha, Abdollah Sohrabi, said.

Ahmadinejad will hold talks with Qatari emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, on issues including the Palestinian question and the devastating floods in Pakistan, Sohrabi told reporters on Thursday. “The visit will last for a few hours,” he added.

Qatar has maintained friendly relations with Iran, unlike other Gulf Arab states.