DUBAI: Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, was welcomed by United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi for high-level talks on Monday.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and reaffirming the UAE’s support for Syria’s independence, sovereignty, and stability.
The UAE foreign minister expressed commitment to assisting the Syrian people in achieving their aspirations and ensuring security across the nation.
During the meeting, he affirmed Abu Dhabi's firm position in supporting Syria's independence and sovereignty over its entire territory and the right of the Syrian people to a secure future and a decent life.
He affirmed the importance of stability in Syria to achieve prosperity, progress, and development, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Mohamed Mubarak Al-Mazrouei, the Emirati Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation Affairs, Khalifa Bin Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State, and Hassan Ahmed Al-Shehhi, the UAE Ambassador to Syria; also attended the meeting.
The Syrian delegation consisted of Murhaf Abu Qasra, the Minister of Defense; Omar Shaqrouq, the Minister of Electricity; Ghiath Diab, the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources; and Anas Khattab, the Chief of the General Intelligence Service.
Shaibani landed in the UAE Monday on his first visit to the country since rebels toppled president Bashar Assad last month, official news agency SANA said.
“Shaibani, accompanied by defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, has arrived in the United Arab Emirates,” SANA reported.
Shaibani also posted a picture of himself on X stepping off a plane, and said he looked forward “to building constructive bilateral relations.”
The officials took office after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus in early December, toppling Assad after more than 13 years of civil war.
Their trip to the UAE comes after they visited its Gulf neighbors Qatar on Sunday and Saudi Arabia last week.
Both Qatar and Turkiye, which backed the anti-Assad opposition, reopened their embassies in Damascus in the aftermath of Assad’s flight to Moscow.
Turkiye has long maintained a working relationship with the HTS rebels, leaving it with a direct line to Damascus.
