Uber is working toward resuming service in Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed Darwish Al Qamzi, general manager of the UAE-based Center for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars, said he's confident that the ride-hailing company will return to doing business in the United Arab Emirates capital, Reuters reported Tuesday.

Uber, which operated there from 2013 to 2016, offered a similar assessment.

"We are in positive conversations... but have not yet decided to resume operations," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement, which blamed the service interruption on pricing regulations.

When Uber suspended operations in Abu Dhabi in 2016, the BBC reported that this followed the arrest of up to 50 Uber drivers for undisclosed reasons. 

The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, which oversees the Center for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars, didn't reply to a request for comment.  

The talks follow last week's European charm offensive by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, which included a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the announcements of AXA insurance for all drivers across the continent and a $23.5 million investment in a hub for developing flying taxis near Paris.

First published May 29 at 3:17 a.m. PDT.
Update, 7:31 a.m. PT: Adds comment from Uber and background on the reason for the suspension.