Obama dispatches top aide to visit Saudi, UAE

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama is sending a key foreign policy aide to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates amid concern over the wave of popular protests sweeping the Middle East.

National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will leave on Monday on a three-day trip to the key US allies and will meet Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan in Abu-Dhabi.

"The National Security Advisor's visit underscores the importance of our relationship with these two key partners," a White House statement said.