Ahmad al-Sharaa visits UAE amid cautious relations with new Syrian leadership

In early April 2025, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the newly appointed President of Syria, visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time since taking office. This visit follows the four-month period after the abrupt fall of former President Bashar Assad due to a rapid rebel assault. During this meeting, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed al-Sharaa and expressed hopes for his leadership in steering Syria towards development, stability, and security. The UAE had previously severed ties with Assad's regime following the violent suppression of protests in 2011 but restored relations by reopening its embassy in Damascus in December 2018. While other Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar quickly recognized the new Syrian administration under al-Sharaa, Emirati leaders have adopted a careful stance due to their historical wariness of Islamist political movements. Al-Sharaa, a former insurgent, played a significant role in Dershu's fight against Assad's regime. The newly formed government in Syria is currently managing numerous challenges, including restructuring the economy and the arduous task of unifying various armed factions into a cohesive national army after years of civil strife. Moreover, the Syrian leadership faces ongoing threats from Israel, which has conducted airstrikes and deployed ground troops in the region, arguing that they are acting in defense of their borders. Syria's officials, alongside U.N. representatives, claim these actions violate an agreement established in 1974, which went into effect after a previous conflict. Given that the UAE has normalized relations with Israel, they could potentially function as an intermediary in resolving the tensions between Syria and Israel. The trip marks a critical moment for the UAE based on their previous hesitations toward supporting new Syrian authority. The overall situation highlights the broader geopolitical implications as the new Syrian government seeks to fortify its connections within the Gulf states while addressing the internal strife and international pressure posed by Israel's military operations. UAE's perspective on al-Sharaa's leadership will be critical as Syria inches closer to potential recovery and stabilization following a protracted period of violence and instability.