Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Reuters: US military carried out a new strike targeting a ship in the Caribbean Sea
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip

Syria, UAE discuss developments in the region, economic cooperation

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Mar 2023 00:13
4 Min Read

The Emirati President tells his Syrian counterpart that Syria has been absent from its brothers for too long.

  • x
  • Syria, UAE discuss developments in the region, economic cooperation
    Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, March 19, 2023 (UAE Presidential Court)

At a meeting on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly told his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad that it was time for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider Arab region.

Al-Assad’s visit to the UAE marks his second since the war on Syria. It follows an earlier visit to Oman back in February. 

Read more: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad arrives in UAE on official visit

Syria has been lately subject to initiatives of Arab affinity aiming at making political amends with the country they severed ties with.

"Syria has been absent from its brothers for too long, and the time has come for it to return to them and to its Arab surroundings," bin Zayed Al Nahyan told Al-Assad during a meeting at the presidential palace, according to WAM news agency.

Read more: Assad receives UAE Foreign Minister, accompanying delegation

In addition to calling for initiatives for the repatriation of Syrian refugees, the Emirati President commended the planned dialogue between Damascus and Ankara, which is now moving toward a settlement with Syria after years of supporting insurgent armed groups, WAM reported. 

Abu Dhabi reestablished diplomatic ties with the Syrian government back in 2018. After the recent devastating earthquake which struck northern Syria, UAE was one of the few Arab countries to send humanitarian aid to Syria. In February, following the earthquake, the Emirati Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, became the first senior Arab official to visit Syria since the outbreak of the war.

Analysts have contended that the aftermath of the earthquake has conditioned Middle Eastern countries to be more inclined toward reestablishing ties with Syria under the plight of international public opinion calling for assisting the quake-afflicted people.     

Read more: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad arrives in Moscow: Office

"The UAE's approach and efforts towards Syria are part of a deeper vision and a broader approach aimed at strengthening Arab and regional stability," said Emirati senior presidential advisor Anwar Gargash.

Related News

SDF to join Syrian army under new agreement with Damascus

Syria not seeking IMF, World Bank loans: Interim finance minister

"The UAE's position is clear regarding the need for Syria to return to its place in the Arab world and regain legitimacy in the region,” Gargash tweeted.

"This was confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during his meeting today with Assad,” the advisor added.

According to a statement released by the Syrian presidency, Al-Assad commended the UAE's efforts at improving ties among Arab nations during their meeting on Sunday. The Syrian President emphasized that inter-Arab ties should be "fraternal". 

During the war on his country, Al-Assad had rarely gone on visits abroad, with the exceptions of Iran and Russia. 

Sunday's UAE visit marks the Syrian President and the First Lady’s official trip together in more than a decade. This trip follows the recent Saudi-Iranian summit in Beijing.

Read more: Saudi-Iranian agreement to restore diplomatic relations

"Saudi policy has taken a different direction towards Syria," Al-Assad said commenting on the recent summit in Beijing. 

Ali Shamkhani, a high-ranking Iranian security official, met with the Emirati President on Thursday in Abu Dhabi and spoke with Prince Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's national security advisor, who was present during Al-Assad's welcoming ceremony on Sunday.

Read more: Iran SNSC chief Shamkhani holds talks in Iraq after UAE visit

Earlier last month, the Saudi Foreign Minister said a consensus was gradually developing in the Arab world, and thus deliberating a new strategy toward Damascus would be necessary. 

Emirati analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said that the UAE "is convinced, along with many Arab states, that the time has come to reconcile with Assad... and see Syria return to the Arab League and the Arab fold."

"The UAE is spearheading efforts to reconcile with enemies of the past and transform them into the friends of tomorrow," Abdulla told AFP. 

  • Syria
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan
  • UAE
  • Syrian war
  • Bashar al-Assad

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS