Abu Dhabi: In a significant diplomatic development, Syria’s new President Ahmed Al-Shara made his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was warmly received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who extended his best wishes for Al-Shara’s leadership and Syria’s future stability.
The visit comes four months after the ouster of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, following a surge in rebel offensives that forced Assad from power. Since then, the UAE has maintained a cautious approach toward Syria’s new government, led by former Islamist rebel commander Ahmed Al-Shara.
According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), President Sheikh Mohamed met Al-Shara in Abu Dhabi, where the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, regional affairs, and international developments. Sheikh Mohamed expressed hope that Al-Shara would lead Syria toward security, development, and long-term stability, aligning with the aspirations of the Syrian people.
A New Chapter in UAE-Syria Relations
This visit marks a new chapter in the UAE-Syria relationship, which had been severely strained since 2011. That year, the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests triggered a brutal civil war and led the UAE—alongside many Arab nations—to cut diplomatic ties with Damascus.
In a notable shift, the UAE became one of the first Gulf nations to re-engage with Syria, reopening its embassy in Damascus in December 2018. In 2022, then-President Assad visited the UAE, a rare trip that hinted at improving relations. However, Al-Shara’s background as a former Islamist rebel leader has prompted a more measured response from Abu Dhabi.
Regional Reactions to Al-Shara’s Rise
While Saudi Arabia and Qatar have welcomed the new Syrian leadership, viewing Al-Shara as a unifying force post-conflict, the UAE has traditionally viewed Islamist political movements with suspicion. Its cautious stance toward Al-Shara reflects a deeper unease about the potential influence of political Islam on governance in the region.
Still, Al-Shara’s visit to Abu Dhabi is seen as an important step toward normalizing diplomatic ties and securing regional support for Syria’s long and difficult reconstruction process.
Rebuilding Syria from the Rubble
Syria’s new government faces daunting challenges as it seeks to rebuild a war-torn economy, restore basic infrastructure, reassert territorial control, and unify fragmented armed factions into a national army. Al-Shara has also emphasized the importance of regional partnerships to drive post-war recovery.
The UAE, known for its strategic investments and regional influence, could play a key role in supporting Syria’s reconstruction efforts, should ties continue to improve.
As Syria emerges from more than a decade of civil war, Al-Shara’s visit to the UAE may represent the beginning of a new era of cautious cooperation, both for his administration and for regional diplomacy.
