Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday, marking a significant diplomatic step since the fall of former President Bashar Assad. The UAE had been cautious in its approach to the new leadership in Damascus following Assad’s removal by a swift rebel offensive several months ago.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, met with al-Sharaa in Abu Dhabi. The two leaders discussed various mutual interests and exchanged views on regional and international developments. In a statement, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his best wishes for al-Sharaa’s leadership, emphasizing the hope that he would successfully guide Syria towards development, security, and stability.
The UAE had cut ties with Assad’s government in 2011 after his violent crackdown on anti-government protests, which eventually led to the Syrian civil war. However, the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018, making it one of the first Arab nations to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria. In 2022, Assad made his first visit to an Arab country since the conflict began when he traveled to the UAE.
Unlike other Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which quickly embraced Syria’s new leadership under al-Sharaa, the UAE took a more cautious stance. Al-Sharaa, an Islamist former insurgent who played a key role in the ousting of Assad, now faces significant challenges as Syria works to rebuild its war-torn economy, consolidate control over the country, and unify various armed factions into a national army.
Additionally, Syria is dealing with growing tensions with Israel, which has launched airstrikes and moved troops into a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in Syria. This zone was established under a 1974 ceasefire agreement, but Syria’s new leadership and U.N. officials have accused Israel of violating the terms and demanded its withdrawal. Israel, however, claims its actions are necessary for border security and intends to maintain its presence in the area.
As one of the few Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel, the UAE could play a key role in mediating between Syria and Israel in an effort to de-escalate tensions.
