DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in the Gulf commercial hub of Dubai as part of his Mideast tour.

Biden landed in the city, home to the world's tallest building, on Tuesday morning. He met with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who is the United Arab Emirates federation's vice president and prime minister.

The Emirates is one of the most important U.S. military and political allies in the Persian Gulf. Biden visited the country's Al-Dhafra Air Base on Monday, which hosts U.S. and Emirati troops battling the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Biden will later attend a meeting with young entrepreneurs in Dubai before taking off for the rest of his trip. He is set to visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan as well.