1st UAE envoy to Syria takes post after 13 years

DAMASCUS — Hassan Ahmad al-Shihi officially presented his credentials on Tuesday to Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, becoming the first United Arab Emirates ambassador to Syria in 13 years.

During his meeting with Mekdad in the Syrian capital Damascus, al-Shihi conveyed to the Syrian side his commitment to enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported.

Al-Shihi also pledged to work to strengthen cooperation and achieve mutual progress between the two Arab states, the report said.

Mekdad expressed Syria’s deep appreciation for the UAE’s solidarity and support for Syria during challenging times.

The UAE embassy was reopened in Syria in late 2018 and a charge d’affaires has been in charge of the diplomatic mission since then. Al-Shihi arrived in Damascus on Monday, Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the Gulf country in March 2022, the first Arab country to receive him since Syria’s civil war erupted nearly 13 years ago. Following the Feb 6, 2023, earthquake that killed more than 50,000 in Turkiye and about 8,000 in Syria, the UAE sent dozens of planes loaded with aid to Syria.

In May, the 22-member Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing Assad back into the fold. Assad, who visited the UAE twice since 2022, took part in the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia in May.

Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia,

which last year reached an agreement with rival Iran to restore bilateral ties under China’s mediation, has opened the door for possible dialogue with Damascus, especially on humanitarian issues.

Al-Watan reported that Riyadh would be sending an ambassador to Damascus soon.

Al-Shihi’s arrival came as Syria is in the grip of a severe economic crisis, part of it as a result of the conflict that has killed half a million people, displaced millions of others and left large parts of the country destroyed. Western sanctions on the war-torn country have led to Syria’s severe economic crisis.

SANA VIA REUTERS Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad (right) receives the credentials of the new ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Syria, Hassan Ahmad al-Shihi, in Damascus on Tuesday.