Syria’s President Assad during the meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. Source: the Syrian Presidency Office.
On January 4, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan paid a surprise visit to Syria where he met with President Bashar al-Assad.
The minister was accompanied by senior Emirate officials, including Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security, Saeed Mubarak Al-Hajri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE for Economic and Trade Affairs.
The Emirates News Agency, WAM, said that the two sides discussed cooperation on different levels and ways to boost economic cooperation as well as the latest developments in Syria and the Middle East.
“Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the commitment and keenness of the UAE to support the efforts made to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis that restores the security, stability and unity of Syria and meets the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people for development, development and prosperity,” the agency said.
From his side, President al-Assad said that the relations between Syria and the UAE are “historic”, and praised Abu Dhabi “positive role” in the Arab region, per to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
The UAE was among the first Arab states to cut ties with Syria less than a year after the start of the war in the country. However, in December 2018 Abu Dhabi reopened its embassy in Damascus. In March 2021, the relations between the two countries entered a new phase with a breakthrough visit by Assad to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Abdullah bin Zayed visit to Syria may be related to Russia’s ongoing efforts to restore ties between Damascus and Ankara. The UAE has been also pushing to reintegrate Syria into the Arab region and the Middle East.
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