Qatari emir in Syria, welcomed by interim President al-Sharaa
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The Syrian embassy in Doha told AFP that Sheikh Tamim would meet with al-Sharaa in what it described as a "historic visit" focused on cooperation and aid across various sectors.
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A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on January 30, 2025, shows Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (L) welcomed by Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa upon his arrival in Damascus. (AFP)
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, arrived in Damascus on Thursday, where he was received by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Qatari royal court announced.
The emir is the first head of state to visit Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
According to a statement by the Amiri Diwan (court), Sheikh Tamim "arrived on an official visit to Damascus," where he was "welcomed by the President of the Syrian Arab Republic," al-Sharaa.
سمو الأمير المفدى يصل إلى العاصمة دمشق في زيارة رسمية إلى الجمهورية العربية السورية الشقيقة، وفي مقدمة مستقبليه أخوه فخامة السيد أحمد الشرع رئيس الجمهورية العربية السورية. #قطر #سوريا https://t.co/E9B20zdtGF pic.twitter.com/XTOZLBPbDb
— الديوان الأميري (@AmiriDiwan) January 30, 2025
His visit comes less than two months after factions led by al-Sharaa's Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group removed al-Assad from power and just a day after al-Sharaa was appointed interim president for an unspecified transitional period. It also follows a visit by Qatar’s Prime Minister earlier this month.
Unlike other Arab nations, Qatar did not restore diplomatic relations with Syria under al-Assad and was among the first to support the offensive that emerged after the start of the war in 2011.
The Syrian embassy in Doha told AFP that Sheikh Tamim would meet with al-Sharaa in what it described as a "historic visit" focused on cooperation and aid across various sectors.
Qatar was the second country, after Turkiye, to reopen its embassy in Damascus following al-Assad’s removal and has advocated for lifting sanctions on Syria.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said Doha welcomed "the steps that aim to restructure" the Syrian state and "consolidate civil peace, security, and stability," after al-Sharaa was also tasked with forming a transitional legislature.
On Wednesday, the new Syrian authorities announced the dissolution of all armed groups involved in al-Assad’s overthrow, along with the former government’s army.
During his visit earlier this month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani pledged support for Syria’s infrastructure rehabilitation, following nearly 14 years of war. He stated that the agreement includes supplying Syria with 200 megawatts of electricity, with plans to gradually increase production.
A diplomatic source also indicated that Qatar is considering assistance for Syria’s public sector salaries.
Earlier this month, ministers from Syria’s transitional government, including Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, met with the Qatari premier during their first visit to the Gulf state since assuming power.
On December 23, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad al-Khulaifi, led the first high-level Qatari delegation to Damascus since diplomatic ties were severed 13 years ago.
Sheikh Tamim is the most senior foreign official to visit Damascus since December.
A Russian delegation visited Syria earlier this week, while foreign ministers and senior officials from countries including France, Germany, and Turkiye have also traveled to Damascus.
On Thursday, Syria’s Defense Ministry announced that a high-ranking Turkish military delegation had also visited the country.
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