ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in the capital of the United Arab Emirates at the start of a Mideast tour.

Biden visited Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Monday morning, pausing outside to remove his black dress shoes in keeping with Islamic custom.

He examined a wall in the ornate mosque bearing the 99 names of God written in Arabic before stepping outside to wave at visiting tourists kept a short distance away.

Accompanying Biden on the mosque tour was its director-general, Yousif Abdallah Alobaidli, and Minister of State Reem al-Hashimi.

Biden is on a regional tour that will also include visits to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.