UAE Sends Ambassador to Syria for the First Time in 12 Years

Syrian state media announced on Tuesday, January 30, that the United Arab Emirates has sent its ambassador to Damascus for the first time since the onset of the Syrian crisis in 2011, marking a new sign of warming relations between Syria and Arab countries. Hassan al-Shehi, the new UAE ambassador, presented his credentials to Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad on Tuesday. In 2011, many Arab countries in the region recalled their ambassadors from Syria and closed their embassies in response to the crackdown on protests against President Bashar al-Assad, but Syria has been gradually re-establishing diplomatic relations with these countries in recent years. At that time, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and to some extent the UAE supported the protesters against Assad, but Abu Dhabi has rebuilt its relations with Damascus in recent years. Bashar al-Assad visited the UAE in 2022, his first trip since the start of the civil war, and returned in 2023 after a devastating earthquake that killed thousands in Syria. This earthquake paved the way for warming relations between the Arabs and Assad, and a few months later, the Arab League lifted its suspension of Syria's membership, which had lasted over a decade. When regional power Saudi Arabia reached an agreement last year with its rival Iran to restore bilateral relations, doors opened for potential dialogue with Damascus, especially regarding humanitarian issues. The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that Riyadh will also soon send its ambassador to Damascus. Hundreds of thousands have died in the Syrian conflict, which began with protests against Assad and involved many foreign powers, leading to the country's disintegration. Syria's efforts to end its isolation; emphasis on expanding relations between Iran and Syria; the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Foreign Minister's visit to Syria after 12 years; Saudi Arabia's call for a new approach among Arab countries towards Syria; Putin encouraging improved relations between Turkey and Syria; Bashar al-Assad accepting the credentials of the Bahraini ambassador to Syria; and a U.S. official stating that Washington is not seeking regime change in Syria.